Canada: Western Quebec’s bus drivers strike continue for one month, school boards pay parents’ mileage

Since late April, nearly 300 school bus drivers have been striking, leading to the cancellation of bus routes across the region.

According to one union representative, the core issues driving the strike are better wages and working conditions.

On Friday, the Western Québec School Board wrote a letter to parents of students in 10 schools that they would reimburse the parents by paying $10 each day to parents who travel less than 14 kilometres, and $20, plus an additional 50 percent for trips with multiple schools with different schedules if they travel more than 14 kilometres.

Another board, the Centre de services scolaire des Hauts-Bois-de-l’Outaouais (CSSHBO), has been paying just over 50 cents per kilometre for travel since May 1.

Marc-André Gauthier, spokesperson for the union representing school bus drivers, Teamsters Canada was reported saying in French, “We can’t be against this measure. We understand that there are parents who are affected, some harder than others.”

Still, the decision raises questions, he added.

While other school boards affected by the strike haven’t announced similar measures, some said they don’t have plans to reimburse parents.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)