Montreal school bus drivers plan to strike on Halloween
Posted October 27, 2023 10:00 am.
Last Updated October 27, 2023 10:05 am.
Some Montreal parents may have to find other ways to get their children to school on Halloween morning, as some local bus drivers will be on strike.
A letter was sent to parents during the week, advising them about the service interruption.
For the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), about 10,000 students will be affected, as bus drivers for the company Transco have voted in favour of an unlimited transportation strike Oct. 31.
Spokesperson for the EMSB, Michael Cohen said by e-mail: “it is a serious problem for everyone concerned, it is a real hardship for parents, but school will continue.”
Teachers have been asked not to hold exams, tests, or evaluations next Tuesday, to not penalize the students who may be absent.
For the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB), Transco is one of eight of their bus carriers. In a memo sent to parents, they mention the strike affects 101 school bus routes and just over 4,600 students. Across Montreal, the LBPSB says around 20,000 students are impacted.
The strike does not affect off-island school board Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
The LBPSB says some contingency measures were put in place like extended supervision hours for drop-off of elementary school students or authorizing a third-party to pick up children. They also encourage carpooling and the use of public transit.
