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Unifor’s strong position as the voice of school bus drivers has grown with the addition of 216 new members at Campeau Bus Lines Ltd in Durham, Ontario.
“The drivers knew they needed a voice in a difficult industry. They held strong in their resolve to unionize and Unifor Organizers were with them every step of the way,” said Unifor Interim Organizing Director Danny McBride.
Unifor either collected both federal and provincial membership cards from the workers, because unions at school bus companies can be federally or provincially certified, depending on the nature of the company’s business.
Unifor applied for a federal certification in early June, and on the eve of the Canada Day long weekend, the Canada Industrial Relations Board recognized that the majority of workers had signed a union membership card and certified the new bargaining unit.
“With all the challenges facing the industry, school bus drivers are increasingly recognizing that they need a union to protect their rights,” said Organizer Kellie Scanlan, who led the organizing drive.
After successful organizing campaigns, Unifor now represents about 1,700 school bus drivers and has been a strong voice for workers in the industry, speaking out on issues such as unpaid work and the challenges in recruiting drivers to the industry, leading to shortages.
