BEAUSJOUR The Manitoba Labour Board is conducting a representation vote in February to determine which union will represent bus drivers in the Sunrise School Division.
Amalgamation of the school divisions by the province in 2002 led to a situation where the unions representing support staff had to be restructured.
According to CUPE Local 1618 President Jackie Hampshire, weve been waiting for this chance for over a year were looking forward to the vote and then getting on with our work. Involved in the vote will be about 130 bus drivers for the Division.
CUPE has been representing drivers in the former Agassiz School Division, while UFCW has represented bus drivers in the former Transcona-Springfield School Division.
Obviously we want to see CUPE continue to represent us, says Hampshire. Being part of a Canadian union has given us the support we need to represent our members, but in a way that keeps good working relations with school trustees and administrators.
The representation vote will be held in select schools and bus garages within the Division on February 8th and 9th so that the bus drivers can vote from the schools they service. (Drivers who are unsure where to vote should contact CUPE.)
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The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canadas largest union representing more than a half-million women and men. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members working in health care facilities, school divisions, municipal services, social services, child care centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services. About 4,000 of these members work in 25 of Manitobas school divisions.
For information, contact:
Lorraine Sigurdson, CUPE Education Representative at (204) 942-0343
Steve Edwards, CUPE Education Representative at (204) 942-0343
Dennis Lewycky, CUPE Communications at (204) 223-6805