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w w w .insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, Au gust 17, 2017 |24 First S tudent C anada urgently seeking bus drivers by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media A regional school bus company has decided to offer some of its drivers a benefits plan to try to retain those they have and entice other people to become a driver. The area manager of First Student Canada-- part of the United Kingdom-based FirstGroup transportation company -- says they anticipate being in serious need of more bus drivers in Halton, particularly in the south, so they have to make the job more attractive. "The shortages are isolated to Oakville and Burlington. That's where it's acute. In Georgetown w e have ample drivers. Toronto had issues last year with driver numbers. It's not just us, it's the whole industry," said Peter McGlynn. The national union Unifor, the largest union in the school bus industry, recently commended Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube on his investigation into the Toronto District Metroland West Media reporter Tim Whitnell got behind the wheel of a 40-foot school bus at the First Student and Toronto Catholic District school boards' depot Aug. 10,, to see what it's like to drive the big vehicle. For his first-hand account, see p. 29. oversight of student transportation. "This investigation confirms that the crisis | Riziero Vertolli/Metroland across Ontario' s school bus system is the result of systemic issues, and that a chronic shortage of drivers still exists," Naureen Rizvi, Unifor including job insecurity, low wages and unpaid drivers in Halton, all part-time, with about an Ontario Regional Director, said in an Aug. 10 work, are addressed, the problems in student even gender split. They are members of the press release. transportation in this province will continue." Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). "Until the root causes of the driver shortage, First Student also employs about 30 full-time First Student has about 200 school bus administrators and mechanics in Halton. The company's regional headquarters is in Burlington on International Boulevard. The main bus depot, with mechanics and some administrative personnel, is on Dundas Street in Burlington. First Student also has bus drop-off and pick up satellite sites in Oakville, Burlington and Georgetown. McGlynn couldn't pinpoint how many drivers they are short or how many routes for the 2017-18 school year are not filled. "The drivers come in to pick their routes in a few weeks so w e are unsure of how many (routes) will be open until that process has been completed. We do anticipate that w e will have open routes," he said. "It is difficult providing a num ber.... That is why we are totally focusing on recruitment and training." In Halton, First Student (formerly called Laidlaw), along with Attridge, Stock and several other service providers, transport tens of thousands of students to and from schools each year. McGlynn's area of responsibility with First Student stretches from Windsor to Peel Region and from Niagara to Goderich. "We have competitive wages and have introduced benefits," he said. "We have (started) a (benefits) pilot program in Burlington (and see Benefits on p.26 "Delivering home comfort from our family to yours since 1967" APPLEBY SYSTEM S FIREPLACE, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS The staff of You'nique Oakville has relocated to In t e r m e z z o H a ir S tu d io · Balayage · H ig h lig h ts · C o lo ur E xperts · Extensions · Keratin T reatm ent T u e s & W e d 15% OFF any Chemical Service with Select Stylists Open Tuesday-Saturday 82 NELSON ST · INTERMEZZOHAIR.COM · 905-825-2840 O Q Open your senses to what others have experienced. OAKVILLE 905.825.1893 BURLINGTON 905.335.3203 2 0 8 6 S P E E R S R D ., O A K V IL L E Come See Our SHOWROOM Mon - Fri. 8am - 5pm; Saturday 11am - 4pm PLUM'S FOOD SHOP iS NOW OPEN! W e s e r v e f re s h b r e a k f a s t & lu n c h e s d a ily T a k e -o u t o n ly until 2 :0 0 , M o n d a y - F r id a y We offer full se rv ic e co rpo rate catering C e le b r a t in g 13 y e a rs 447 S p e e rs Rd, unit 9 · 905-844-7110 w w w .a p p le b ysyste m s.ca www.plumcatering.ca