Countdown to school bus driver strike still on while union reaches deal in neighbouring Ontario town [Video]

First Student Bus drivers in Bowmanville voted 87 per cent in favour of a new three-year contract Thursday while their counterparts in Ajax and Brooklin have submitted a ‘no board report’ to the Ministry of Labour, which triggers a legal countdown toward potential strike action, which could begin as early as May 16.

Both groups are members of Unifor Local 4268 but national union representative Jenny Yuen said the two groups of school bus drivers are involved in separate labour discussions.

Yuen said the meeting scheduled between the union local and Durham Student Transportation Services on May 15 is just a day before the strike deadline.

Unifor National President Lana Payne congratulated the bargaining committee in Bowmanville for addressing “key important issues” – including making a living wage – in reaching a deal, which calls for a 13 per cent wage boost over the life of the contract and a …