(Montreal) The school bus drivers’ union maintains its refusal to resort to arbitration to resolve the dispute with Autobus Transco, despite an invitation to this effect from the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, and the employer.
The union, which represents 350 school bus drivers, has been on strike since October 31. The strike therefore continues.
Some 15,000 young people who study in schools of the Montreal and Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Service Centers, as well as the English Montreal and Lester B. Pearson School Boards and at Collège Sainte-Anne have been deprived of school transportation since the month of October.
Last Friday, faced with this ongoing conflict, the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, met separately with the employer and the union of the Federation of Public Service Employees, affiliated with the CSN.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Quebec Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet
He then reminded the parties that if they consented, he could appoint an arbitrator – a neutral and impartial third party – to settle the dispute and thus allow a return to work. The arbitration award then serves as a collective agreement. The employer had already offered it to the union, on more than one occasion, in vain.
“We will not go to arbitration. We will not have a collective agreement imposed on us,” replied the president of the union, Carole Laplante, in an interview on Wednesday.
The arguments of the Minister of Labor “do not convince us”.
She adds that the union has been negotiating with Autobus Transco for several years and has always managed to reach an agreement to renew the collective agreement.
The main point of dispute is the remuneration of bus drivers.
“We believe in conciliation,” added M.me The plant.
Moreover, another conciliation meeting took place on Wednesday, but without development. The impasse remains, she admits.
The employer maintains its offer. “Autobus Transco has been proposing arbitration since the beginning of January, but the CSN continues to reject this reasonable proposal, which is detrimental to students’ attendance in class. »
“The CSN happens to be the only party prolonging this unnecessary strike,” deplores Autobus Transco.