In response to the notice issued regarding a potential service disruption in the Nipissing-Parry Sound area of Ontario, United Steelworkers Local 2020 wants families to know Alouette School Bus Drivers remain committed to reaching a fair agreement.
Last week, 83% of drivers voted to reject the company’s final offer. Drivers currently earn $18.11 per hour for the responsibility of safely transporting students every day. This region is one of the lowest paid in all of Ontario, even though they perform the exact same job and hold the same responsibilities as all other regions in Ontario. The Sudbury regional consortium pays their school bus drivers $25.44 per hour. The union is seeking $21.10 per hour as this is the livable wage in the Nipissing region, but the employer has offered $20.00 per hour. This would still leave our Nipissing-Parry Sound drivers short $5.44 of the Sudbury region’s hourly wages. The union understands that we will not get to $25.44 in one set of negotiations, but a livable wage is what we believe to be fair.
Stephanie Gunson, President of USW Local 2020, said, “Our members did not make this decision lightly. When 83% of drivers vote no, it sends a clear message that $18.11 per hour is not sustainable. Drivers care deeply about the students and families they serve, and they want to continue doing their jobs with dignity and fairness.”
Kevon Stewart, District 6 Director of the United Steelworkers, added: “This situation can still be resolved. Provincial funding benchmarks recognize higher compensation for school bus drivers, and public funding intended for driver wages should be reflected in their pay. We are calling for leadership and accountability to help reach a fair agreement before families are impacted.”
The union has reached out to the Minister of Education regarding wage inequities in the Nipissing-Parry Sound district and has not received a response.
The union remains ready to return to the bargaining table at any time to secure a fair and responsible resolution.
About the United Steelworkers union
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union’s strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
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