Hundreds of Brampton School Bus Drivers are Getting a Raise

Who doesn’t love a pay raise?

Unifor, the major Canadian trade union that represents hundreds of thousands of workers including school bus drivers, recently announced that school bus drivers at First Student Canada and Parkview Transit, members of Unifor locals 4268 and 1285, have voted to accept new collective agreements. 

The new agreements will result in a raise for many Brampton school drivers. 

“The Parkview Transit drivers, new members to Unifor Local 1285, voted in favour of a first collective agreement that will cover approximately 450 drivers in the Brampton region,” said Unifor in a recent statement. “The three-year contract delivers a 17 per cent average wage hike in year one and also contains a significant key-to-key pay structure.”

The pay increase comes at a time when Unifor Local 4268 and First Student Bowmanville have also reached a tentative agreement that will bring an end to a three-day school bus strike. 

As for Unifor Local 1285 – the drivers that will be reaping the rewards of that 17 per cent wage hike – the pay raise might even be overdue.

“This is a major gain for these drivers and will help to address the ongoing practice of unpaid driving time in the industry,” said Vito Beato, First Vice-President of Unifor Local 1285. 

What’s more – the agreement includes a signing bonus, paid education leave, and the union will now be able to train some representatives to assist women with issues of harassment, intimate violence and abuse.

“For too long driving a school bus has been treated as a hobby occupation but make no mistake – it’s work and it’s hard work,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “As Ontario’s school bus driver’s union Unifor will continue to fight for respect and fair treatment for our members.” 

Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, and it represents 315,000 workes across the Canadian economy.