CUPE 4747 is raising serious concerns following the Living Sky School Division Board’s decision to move forward with a plan to sell off its rural school bus fleet and contract out transportation services to a private company, Southland Transportation.
“At this stage, there are still many unanswered questions,” said Krista Walker, president of CUPE 4747. “We recognize the financial challenges the school division is facing, but contracting out a critical public service like student transportation carries significant long-term risks.”
While contracting out may appear to be a cost-saving solution, CUPE 4747 warns that the long-term impacts are often very different. Key concerns include:
- Loss of oversight and transparency, as the school division gives up direct control over day-to-day operations, training standards, and performance.
- Potential decline in service quality, as private companies prioritize profit, often leading to higher staff turnover and less investment in safety.
- Cost uncertainty, with low initial bids frequently followed by rising costs once long-term contracts are locked in.
“Other school divisions across North America have experienced escalating costs and reduced service quality after contracting out transportation services,” said Walker. “Once a fleet is sold, it can be extremely costly – or impossible – to bring services back in-house if privatization fails to deliver.”
CUPE 4747 emphasized its commitment to its members affected by this decision and to the families and students who depend on safe, reliable transportation.
“We will continue to advocate for our members’ jobs, working conditions, and rights,” said Walker. “CUPE 4747 will be fully engaged as this process moves forward and will hold the employer accountable every step of the way.”
