MONTREAL — Rejecting a “settlement” imposed by government and boss-backed compulsory arbitration, 350 school bus drivers for the Transco company voted March 7 to accept a conciliator’s proposal and end their four-month strike. The drivers are members of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN).
Their strike began Oct. 31, affecting 15,000 students in both private and public schools in the Montreal area.
The new six-year contract, retroactive to July 1, 2022, will increase the weekly salary of the drivers from 634 Canadian dollars ($470) to CA$907 by July 1, 2027, a 43% boost.
“We also received an increase in our vacation scale to 10% after the 15th year of service, as well as a sixth sick day in 2025,” Carole Laplante, the drivers’ union president, told the media.
“On behalf of the CSN, I would like to congratulate the combativeness of the members of the Transco union, their tenacity, their determination and above all, their solidarity in this negotiation process marked by a difficult conflict,” said CSN President Caroline Senneville.
Strikers distributed a leaflet outside the schools explaining why they had to walk out, winning the support of many parents.
“I am glad they are back at work, and I am also happy they got a decent wage increase,” one parent told CTV News.