PRINCE ALBERT, SK - Bus drivers who transport children in the Prince Albert Separate School Division are the newest group of workers to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The 22 bus drivers, employed by Hertz Northern Bus, joined CUPE so they could negotiate better wages and working conditions.
Bus drivers employed by the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division already belong to CUPE and know the benefits of union membership, says CUPE organizer Bill Robb. They not only have better wages than the Hertz bus drivers, they have an extended health plan, dental and vision care coverage and belong to the Municipal Employees Pension Plan.
The Hertz bus drivers want to achieve parity in wages and benefits, he adds.
The labour relations board certified CUPE as the bargaining agent for the Hertz separate school bus drivers on November 24.
Robb says CUPE has several other organizing drives underway in the Prince Albert region.
The response has been very positive, says Robb. People want to see major improvements in their work lives and they are turning to CUPE as the provinces largest union to help them achieve those changes.
Robb expects that Hertz bus drivers wont be the newest group of CUPE members for long.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Bill Robb in Saskatoon at 382-8262.