On December 10, CUPE 4747 presented to the Living Sky School Division Board of Trustees, warning about the risks of a proposal to sell off rural bus services to a private, for-profit company. The division is considering this option as a response to chronic underfunding from the provincial government, which has placed significant financial pressure on school divisions across Saskatchewan.
CUPE 4747 argues that contracting out bus services will not solve these challenges and will instead create long-term problems for students, families, and staff.
Key concerns raised by CUPE 4747 during the presentation include:
- Threat to jobs: Dedicated bus drivers who know local roads, weather, and students will lose secure employment and fair wages.
- Higher costs, fewer services: Outsourcing to a for-profit company will drive up operating costs, causing increased long-term expenses for the division or forcing cuts to services.
- Loss of local control: Decisions about routes and scheduling will be taken out of the division’s hands, creating uncertainty for parents and students.
- Impact on families: Longer rides, fewer options, and less accountability when problems arise.
“Selling off rural buses will cost more and deliver less,” said Krista Walker, president of CUPE 4747. “Families, students, and drivers deserve better – and the board still has time to make the right choice.”
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