School bus drivers vote in favour of striking again
Despite statements from the company lauding its own wages and warning job actions could cost workers their jobs, 330 school bus drivers employed by Transco voted 85 per cent in favour of a new strike mandate on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day — a third previously approved one-day strike — Transco issued a statement saying employees receive “the best salaries in the industry in Montreal.”
Laurie Henner, an area manager for Transco, said in a statement that the company’s offer to employees is based on “the ability of school boards to pay, (abilities) which are ultimately funded by taxpayers.”
An official for Transco also warned that continued strike action could result in the loss of jobs for some drivers.
While Transco acknowledged in the statement that strike days “have significant consequences for the communities whose services are interrupted,” it said the work actions could “result in the loss of driving routes and, therefore, the loss of jobs for drivers.”
“As a result, drivers who find themselves unemployed and without income may have to work for competitors who pay less than Transco, which offers the most competitive salaries in Montreal.”
Earlier in February, the rank and file voted to reject a company offer. Salaries are the fundamental issue in the contract talks. Drivers previously struck on Jan. 30 and 31.
Transco is responsible for 55 bus routes for the Lester B. Pearson school board, 82 for the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board, 59 for the Montreal school board, 88 for the English Montreal school board and 18 for the private Collège St-Anne.
About 15,000 students are affected by the strike.
“We know that currently there is a serious problem of recruiting and retaining staff, directly related to the poor working conditions offered in school transportation,” said Stéphanie Gratton, vicepresident of FEESP-CSN, the Fédération des employées et employés de services publics.
“For us, there is no miracle solution, other than to offer a living wage that recognizes the importance of the work of these employees.”