Bargaining resumed for a single day in mid-July, when the Winnipeg School Division 1 bargaining committee was handed a final offer that contained the financial terms of bill 28. Bus Drivers met last week, at a socially-distanced in-person meeting, reviewed the details of the final offer and strongly turned it down.
“Offering the terms of Bill 28 is unacceptable,” stated Bea Bruske, Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 832. “Bus Drivers have the important job of making sure our kids are looked after as they get to and from school, they deserve a fair deal.”
On March 3, the bus drivers of Winnipeg 1 School Division already voted unanimously to strike as the employer was not engaging in meaningful bargaining, and since that time, the ‘draconian’ Bill 28 has been struck down in court.
“We have three days of bargaining booked with the employer at the end of August,” said Bea. “Unless the school division adjusts their bargaining position and comes to the table with a fair offer, then parents will not be able to rely on the bus service when schools reopen.”
UFCW 832 represents roughly 95 bus drivers for Winnipeg School Division 1. Their current contract expired on June 30, 2019.