For anyone wondering why there’s a shortage of drivers in the first place:
Bus driver positions are part-time, seasonal and do not offer benefits. They pay an average of $18 to $19 an hour in Ottawa, Kyriaco said, compared to an OC Transpo bus driver position that might pay over 30 dollars an hour and include benefits
Not only is it part-time, its a split shift with a long break in the middle as well. If they really wanted to solve the shortage they would just increase the pay.
I just retired from my rural bus route in Saskatchewan. Not every division is the same, but I worked directly for the school division, was a member of CUPE, and got full benefits including participation in the same pension plan as the teachers. I made over $20k last year without even doing any field trips. That’s not far off a typical part time job, but benefits, pension, fixed schedule, and summers off as a fresh air inspector (collecting EI). And nobody looking over my shoulder!
It boggles my mind that the division has trouble finding drivers because people prefer working part time at the grocery store.
For anyone wondering why there’s a shortage of drivers in the first place:
Not only is it part-time, its a split shift with a long break in the middle as well. If they really wanted to solve the shortage they would just increase the pay.
A shortage occurs when the pay is unable to increase.
This isn’t a shortage, though, this is a not being in the market.
I just retired from my rural bus route in Saskatchewan. Not every division is the same, but I worked directly for the school division, was a member of CUPE, and got full benefits including participation in the same pension plan as the teachers. I made over $20k last year without even doing any field trips. That’s not far off a typical part time job, but benefits, pension, fixed schedule, and summers off as a fresh air inspector (collecting EI). And nobody looking over my shoulder!
It boggles my mind that the division has trouble finding drivers because people prefer working part time at the grocery store.
I honestly don’t know which would be better. Driving around literal kids, or a bunch of adults who act like kids.