School bus drivers picket at Pavillon Poupore in Fort-Coulonge

School bus drivers picket at Pavillon Poupore in Fort-Coulonge

More than thirty school bus drivers on strike since the beginning of the month demonstrated in front of the Pavillon Poupore de l’École primaire des Petits-Ponts this morning (May 11). The drivers wanted to make parents, who currently have to bring their children to school, aware of their union requests. Jacques Masseau, a driver with with more than 30 years of experience, spoke with CHIP 101.9.

“We want fair pay. It’s all about the cost of living, it’s that simple,” he said (translated). “As it is there, we do not make money. It’s just 20-hour jobs, we understand, but at some point, I mean, we… we have to make a living too, and then they don’t offer us much, they absolutely offer us not much. What we want, the rest of us, is just for it to be fair.”

Some local elected officials were also on scene in support of the strikers. In addition to the representatives of the municipalities of Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller commented on the labor dispute, saying she hoped an agreement could be reached as soon as possible.

The full (French-language) interview with school bus driver Jacques Masseau is available here.