A labour dispute between Alouette Bus Lines and its drivers leaves nearly 2,000 students across the Nipissing-Parry Sound region without transportation to school on Monday, as the union prepares to hold a ratification vote on the company’s final contract offer.
The collective agreement between the company and United Steelworkers Local 2020 expired Aug. 31, 2025. Both sides confirmed the parties were in a legal work-stoppage position as of Feb. 21, but the union had previously indicated its members would complete their morning routes Monday before walking off the job if the offer was rejected.
Wages remain key sticking point
In a letter sent to the union Saturday, Kevin Gillis, a senior vice president with the bus line, said the only outstanding issue in negotiations is wages.
“The company has offered to increase bus driver wages by $2.69/hour over the course of the new agreement,” Gillis wrote.
“The union has refused this offer.”
Gillis expressed disappointment that the union would not be recommending acceptance of the final offer to its membership during Monday’s vote.
“This is disappointing.”
— Kevin Gillis, Senior Vice President of Alouette Bus Lines
In his letter, Gillis described the union’s plan as using school children as pawns in the negotiations, adding the company would not allow children to be stranded at school.
“The company is disappointed the union is electing to use the school children as pawns in our negotiations,” Gillis said.
Union disputes ‘pawns’ accusation
Stephanie Gunson, president of USW Local 2020, said in an email to CTV News that the union received a copy of the company’s letter around 1 p.m. Sunday.
Gunson explained the union’s plan to have drivers complete their morning runs before any potential strike action, a decision she said was made with the students in mind.
“Should the employer reach a fair deal with the union, we would have no issues recommending the offer.”
— Stephanie Gunson, President of United Steelworkers Amalgamated Local 2020
“When the employer had provided their final offer to the bargaining committee late Friday afternoon, the wages still fell far below the minimum livable wage in the area,” Gunson wrote.
“At this time, the union is not recommending acceptance but will present to the membership both sides of the coin for either accepting the final offer or not and leave it to the membership to decide,” Gunson added.
The union president said that despite being in a legal strike position, the union had informed the employer drivers would complete their morning routes to get children to school, hold a vote once those drivers were finished, and if the offer was turned down, would not do the afternoon runs.
“I’d like to clarify that the union is not using the children as pawns for this negotiation,” Gunson said.
Gunson said the employer is aware of how much drivers care about the children they transport and has been trying to use that concern as a tactic since before the first vote on Feb. 5.
“We do understand that this labour dispute is affecting families and communities, but these drivers deserve so much more than what is being offered and they must stand up for their worth,” Gunson said.
Company to pay drivers not to work
As a result of the impasse, Gillis said the company will ask bargaining unit members not to report to work on Monday, adding they will be paid their regular rate for the day.
“The company will not allow the children to be stranded at school,” Gillis said.
“As the union will not commit to ensuring the children are safely returned home, the company will therefore ask members of the bargaining not to report to work on Monday.”
Gillis indicated drivers would be welcome to return to work Tuesday pending the outcome of Monday’s vote, assuming the union would commit to ensuring children are delivered home at the end of the school day.
How to know if your family is affected
Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services, the consortium responsible for student transportation in the region, says Alouette operates 67 routes serving approximately 1,912 students in its service area across all four area school boards.
The consortium said that any suspension of services will be reflected as cancellations in BusPlanner for those who are subscribed to bus status alerts and on the associated website.
Vote scheduled for Monday morning
The union will hold its ratification vote at 10 a.m. Monday. Gunson said the outcome would determine whether drivers are on strike after the vote.
In a move aimed at facilitating the vote, Gillis said the company would authorize drivers to use their company vehicles to attend the vote, with vehicles to be left at the company depot in the event of strike action.
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