First Student Sault Ste. Marie ratifies

First Student Sault Ste. Marie ratifies significant wage increases, language improvements and paid personal days with new collective agreement.

The membership at First Student in Sault Ste. Marie ratified a three-year agreement on October 27, 2025.

A newly designed wage grid and structure will be introduced that will pay members based on their run-time with up to 15% in increases over the 3-year term. The new pay grid includes increases for every 10 minutes of driving time, up from every 15 minutes, and adds 20 minutes for duties such as circle checks, snow removal, cleaning etc. whereas the old structure added 15 minutes.  These two changes will make for a fairer pay structure, and move most drivers up one pay category or more.

There are also significant increases to city and highway charters, and specified regular charter rates of up to $10 per charter. There are new Minimum Wage + rates for trainers, bus washers, and non-driving pay.

Standby-pay, meal per-diems, and fueling allowances will also all increase.

There will be the addition of three paid personal days per year.

Union negotiating committee: Matthew Berg, Susan Lowen, and Donald Siegwart. Union representative Jim Hames.

Catch up on all the negotiation highlights from across the province here.

Find out more about Just Cause Protection, Salary Stability, and more.

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