Updated as of Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 4:20am:
The union representing drivers in the Kincardine-Port Elgin and Owen Sound-Wiarton areas and First Student Canada have come to a tentative agreement. All buses will be running on schedule.
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From Wednesday, February 1, 2018:
Talks continue between the union representing drivers and First Student Buslines with tomorrow's strike deadline looming.
A strike notice was issued by Unifor Local 4268 last Friday for 12:01am March 1. The union represents drivers in the Owen Sound - Wiarton and Kincardine - Port Elgin areas.
The Bluewater District School Board and the Student Transportation Service Consortium of Grey-Bruce are not part of the bargaining process but are watching the situation.
If there is job action, consortium officials say families who rely on bussing to get kids to school will have to find alternate transportation.
Any labour disruption could affect schools in Owen Sound, Holland-Chatsworth, Tobermory, Lion's Head, Wiarton, Hepworth, Sauble Beach, Meaford, Kincardine, Port Elgin and Southampton.
Unifor says they are committed to negotiations despite a looming strike deadline.
Unifor Regional Director Naureen Rizvi says it is a simple and fair demand that the workers be paid for all of the time they put into their jobs, instead of being asked to work for free.
The union anticipates bargaining will continue up until the midnight deadline with the goal of a tentative deal.
Bargaining committees for Unifor Local 4268 for both Owen Sound and Wiarton, and the Port Elgin Kincardine area are working together.
The union says the employer, First Student, has yet to make an adequate offer to compensate drivers
Unifor Local 4268 President Debbie Montgomery said that to combat precarity and poor working conditions, provincial change is needed.
"We need increased accountability across the province so the people of Ontario know that their children will receive safe and reliable transportation by trained professional drivers," said Montgomery. "Improving working conditions is what school bus drivers are demanding in this round of bargaining, but it would also go a long way to fix the current issue of low interest in recruitment. A fair deal will benefit all sides and I hope that is what we achieve today."
Unifor has previously highlighted the deep-rooted issues that lead to these difficult negotiations including how consortiums and school boards have utilized funds designated for student transportation in other ways. In recent years, school bus operators have highlighted the growing issue of low recruitment levels and high turnover of school bus drivers, leading to shortages.
In addition to school bus routes in these regions the Owen Sound Transit system, the Municipality of Meaford Specialized Transit Service and the Bruce Power shuttle service could see a withdrawal of services if no deal is reached.