WINDSOR, ONT.— First Student Canada has served Unifor with formal notice that they will lock out members next Monday, Sept. 15 at 12:01 a.m.

“We will not be intimidated by this company’s bullying tactics,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“Our members will not accept an offer that underpays and undermines them.”

In its letter, the company also made it clear that benefits for the drivers will be suspended at the same time. The outstanding issue is drivers’ wages.

Unifor members from Local 195 voted 98% in favour of a strike mandate on Aug. 20. The local represents 140 First Student Bus drivers in Windsor.

First Student Bus – which transports about 7,000 students to school each day – walked away from negotiations last month.

The union and employer met on Aug. 7 and 8, 2025, and on the last day of bargaining, First Student told the bargaining committee that if it didn’t accept its offer, it could go on strike. From that point, the company has repeatedly told Unifor members that it planned to lock them out on Sept. 15 unless both sides could reach a deal by that date.

“Our members care about the Windsor communities and don’t want to impact parents, teachers and students,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi.

“Unifor continues to be ready and available to reach a fair collective agreement, but let’s be clear – it was First Student who made threats of a lockout and not us.

They seem to think it’s perfectly reasonable to put schools and communities in a hostage position.”

The bus drivers in this unit drive for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Greater Essex County District School Board, and Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.

Unifor represents 20,000 members across the road transportation sector, with over 2,000 school bus drivers.

Premier Doug Ford slammed international liquor giant Diageo for cutting Unifor jobs and shifting production of Crown Royal out of Ontario – calling the company “dumb as a bag of hammers” as he poured out a bottle of the Canadian whisky.

At the September 2 media conference, the Premier went on to warn Diageo that the company is jeopardizing $740 million worth of business with the LCBO, its largest North American customer, all to save the $17 million it costs to pay Ontario workers.

“This is how you fight a trade war. This is how we stand up for good manufacturing jobs. We have leverage – and we use it. It’s time all politicians in Canada use domestic leverage to stand up for jobs. The message here is quite simple: You want to sell here? Then you better manufacture here,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

The call comes as Unifor Local 200 members at Diageo’s Amherstburg, Ont. plant prepare to fight to save more than 200 jobs following the company’s August 28 announcement that it will close the Crown Royal bottling facility in February 2026.

Diageo did not consult the union or its members before making the decision public—a move Unifor says shows a complete lack of respect for the workforce and community.

“This plant isn’t just a workplace — it’s the backbone of Amherstburg. Shutting it down would devastate families and the entire community. Diageo’s decision rips the heart out of Amherstburg. Our members built their success, and we won’t let them walk away without a fight,” said Unifor Local 200 President John D’Agnolo.

Premier Ford has also pledged to have the backs of Unifor members at Crown Royal, promising to stand with them as they fight to defend their jobs and their community.

Between the economic and social fallout, Unifor says Diageo’s decision is unacceptable.

“This company has picked a fight with the wrong union, in the wrong country, at the wrong time. Unifor is calling on all levels of government and consumers to hold Diageo—and any other company that plans to ship jobs out of Canada—accountable.” added Payne.