Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 588 in Regina is the oldest of the three locals affiliated to the ATU. The other two locals are Saskatoon Local 615, representing the city of Saskatoon transit workers, and Local 1374, representing employees from the Saskatchewan Transportation Company, who were certified on August 19, 1946; these employees provide rural bus service to all areas of Saskatchewan. Currently the ATU Local 588 has approximately 220 members, who work for the city of Regina Transit Service; and there are 45 para-transit workers working for First Bus Canada, which supplies bus services to Regina's disabled community. The Saskatoon ATU Local 615 was certified on February 3, 1913; on April 24, 1947, it was officially recognized as an appropriate unit of employees for the purpose of collective bargaining by the Labour Relations Board of Saskatchewan. In August 1994, ATU Local 615 members walked off the job for ten and one-half weeks in what became known as the Saskatoon Civic Dispute - part of a common front strike which also involved four CUPE Locals and an IBEW Local also employed by the city of Saskatoon. This strike was a result of a significant dispute over wages and increased vacation time. Today, ATU Local 615 represents 275 members of the city of Saskatoon Transit Services.

John McCormick