No imminent disruption of special-needs transportation

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — School bus drivers and shop personnel represented by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union did not go on strike in late February, despite earlier reports by local media that a strike was looming.

CAW Local 4268 President Len Poirier said that the union’s 800 First Student workers in six Ontario locations would continue negotiations throughout March.

Many of the drivers transport students with special needs.

As of Feb. 22, the union had yet to meet all of the requirements necessary to go on strike, but four of the locations had held strike votes.

Poirier said that the earliest chance of a strike would be at the end of March.

For the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, a strike would halt more than 150 small buses and other vehicles that serve special-needs students, according to The Mississauga News.