School Bus Drivers across the Nipissing District play a vital role in keeping our children safe – yet they are paid poverty wages that do not reflect the importance of their work.
Alouette Bus Lines drivers are currently being paid $18.11/hour, well below the region’s livable wage of $21.10/hour. While drivers are fighting for fair compensation, the company is offering only $19.60/hour and claiming the Consortium is responsible for approving school transportation contracts and that is what the Consortium is prepared to pay school bus drivers in this region. Â
Families rely on these drivers every day. They deserve stability, respect and pay that reflects their essential contribution to our communities.
We are calling on the Nipissing District Board Consortium and Alouette Bus Lines to:
· Pay drivers a livable wage of at least $21.10/hour
· Respect the essential work that drivers perform
· Ensure safe, reliable school bus services by investing in the workers who provide them.
Underpaying workers harms students, families and the entire community. When school bus drivers are paid poverty wages, recruitment and retention suffer – and so does the safety, consistency and familiarity of the school bus drivers for students when needing school transportation. Â
** Add your name to stand with Alouette School Bus Drivers.
Together, we can demand dignity, fairness, and a livable wage. **
In Solidarity,
United Steelworkers union (USW)