School bus driver strike in western Quebec heading towards a fourth week
About 16,000 students are without transportation to and from schools in Gatineau and the Pontiac after school bus drivers went on strike.
Approximately 300 drivers with Autobus Lasalle, Autobus Campeau, and Bigras Transport went on strike at the beginning of May.
Contract talks have stalled for three weeks over wages and contract length demands.
"It was not enough for the drivers and is below the cost of living," Teamsters Quebec Local 106 union representative Denis Ouellette says.
"So the cost of living was 6.8 per cent and they were only offered five per cent. The company wants a six-year collective agreement. It's a bit long considering all that has happened in the past three years."
Jacques Masseau has been a school bus driver in the Pontiac for 31 years for Autobus Lasalle. He tells CTV News he feels disrespected and under appreciated by his company.
"A truck driver that drives and is making more money than I am an hour. I'm supposed to be driving, for the province of Quebec, the most precious cargo there is, and I'm not paid for it. I'm not paid enough for it."
The bussing companies as well as Quebec's Ministry of Education did not respond to CTV News request for comment on the strike.
Warden of the Pontiac Jane Toller says she is concerned the strike has lasted as long as it has.
"I did write a letter to the Ministry of Education that was received earlier this week. I'm confident that by next week they'll be back at the table negotiating."
The situation is also leaving many families in rural Quebec to bear the burden of school transportation at the tail end of the semester.
Shawville resident Veronique Emilie Jong Coate has two children that go to school out of town. She started a carpool with other families to help offset the cost of driving.
"One hundred and sixty kilometres a day is not cheap, especially with the price of gas and the fact that I drive a truck," Coate tells CTV News.
"Two of the kids I'm going to be carpooling next week are kids that were out of school up until now."
She adds that a trip to and from school in the morning and afternoon takes two and a half hours, adding up to over 12 hours of driving her kids to school each week.
"What's the other option? Not let my kids go to school and not do their year-end exams."
Crystal Dubeau and Richard Lance live in Otter Lake and have three children that attend school in nearby towns.
They also run a restaurant and cafe in Otter Lake and say sometimes they have to choose between their business and their kids missing school.
"It's taking too much time and resources," Dubeau says.
"And the days that we go down to the city for supplies, we can't send them to school because we won't be back in time to get them."
Lance adds that the strike is frustrating as the family sees it carrying on through the end of the school year.
"It's their education, that's the main thing. I don't know what's going to come about with this."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.