While parents have been urged to come up with a Plan B, the Quebec government reached an agreement in principle with the Bus Carriers Federation (FTA) on Friday, just days before the start of the school year.
The FTA Board will recommend acceptance of the tentative agreement to its members. So if all goes according to plan, the yellow buses will be back on the streets of Quebec by the start of the school year.
“It’s a relief,” says Kévin Roy, president of the Association of Parents’ Committees.
“Not in the right direction”
He says it’s a step in the right direction. However, the six-year contract must be presented to FTA members in order for them to enter into contracts with their respective school service center.
“We started to worry a little bit, the parents were concerned. This is the topic we talked about the most. More than school supplies, more than COVID,” he says.
Education Minister Jean-François Roberge announced this week that negotiations would shift into “higher gear” to unblock discussions between the two parties.
A negotiator, Maître Claude Sauvageau, had even been appointed to resolve the impasse.
“Significant” investments
“This agreement, in principle, proposes significant investments […] and meets all the expectations of school authorities,” Minister Roberge said in a press release.
The President and CEO of the Bus Carriers Federation, Luc Lafrance, was also very positive.
“We are pleased to be able to secure the return to school next week,” he said, confident his members will reach an agreement with the school service centers.
Without disclosing the terms of the confidential agreement, Mr Lafrance recalls that the cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance and anything related to inflation were part of the negotiations.
“A long way has been traveled to solve these problems. »
Several schools immediately emailed parents to reassure them for the next school year.
Keep in mind that since June 30, several student transportation contracts have expired and there is a threat of a strike as negotiations stalled a few days ago.