Potential strike by Quebec's La Montréalaise school bus drivers
Laplante pointed out that recent service disruptions resulted in the loss of seven routes due to driver shortages, yet Sogesco continues to offer uncompetitive salaries.
School bus drivers with La Montréalaise, affiliated with Transport scolaire Sogesco, have adopted two pressure tactics, potentially leading to an unlimited general strike.
These mandates received over 95 percent support from the Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des Autobus La Montréalaise-CSN (STTALM–CSN) and its Montreal division (STTALM–DM–CSN).
Carole Laplante, president of the school transportation sector for the FEESP–CSN, criticized Sogesco's approach at the negotiation table, saying it reflects a strategy to keep wages low to benefit senior management. She attributes the difficulty in attracting and retaining drivers to inadequate pay.
Laplante pointed out that recent service disruptions resulted in the loss of seven routes due to driver shortages, yet Sogesco continues to offer uncompetitive salaries.
FEESP-CSN Vice-President Josée Dubé highlighted that Sogesco has been granted around 25 percent more per contract since 2022, with the government specifying that some of these funds should support driver salaries to ensure reliable service for students and parents.
Dubé also noted that Sogesco's top executives saw salary increases totaling $114,907, $114,770, and $66,187, raising their annual compensation to over half a million dollars. She argued that public funds have substantially enriched Sogesco’s executives while drivers receive minimal raises.
