NORTH BAY, ON – Striking school transportation workers have cancelled an information picket planned for today, accepting instead an offer from Education minister Gerard Kennedy to meet privately. The workers will discuss the issues in the month-old strike by members of Local 1165-6 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing three transportation technicians who plan and ensure bus routing and transportation services for the Near North District School Board, the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, Le Conseil scolaire de district du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, and the Conseil scolaire Franco-Nord.
“We thank all those who were planning to attend our information picket today,” said Michelle Loiselle, CUPE National Representative. “We now have an opportunity to explain the situation in detail to the minister, and we felt it was important to accept his offer of a private meeting.”
The workers, on strike since September 19th to fight management concession demands, are employed by a transportation consortium, Student Transportation Services Nipissing Parry Sound, providing transportation services to four area school boards.
For further information, please contact:
Michelle Loiselle
CUPE national representative
(705) 561-9076
(705) 561-9077
Robert Lamoureux
CUPE communications
(416) 292-3999