REGINA, Sask. — A Saskatchewan truck transport company has filed for bankruptcy and the past-president of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) has taken up the plight of its displaced workers.

SynLogistics of Regina has voluntarily gone into formal bankruptcy proceedings, leaving its 100 or so workers without jobs or paycheques, states the STA. SynLogistics is a little more than a year old. Schneider’s Trucking purchased Prud’homme Trucks in Sept. 2007 to form the company. The new owner Don Schneider merged the dry van company with his flatdeck operation to become SynLogistics Ltd.

Workers coming to work Nov. 5, were told the company had gone out of business. Some office staff, mechanics, and drivers had not been paid for two to three weeks, according to the STA, which also noted that some owner/operators were as much as two months behind in being paid.

STA past-president Denis Prud’homme has taken up the cause of SynLogistics’s workforce, and has been busy placing workers with other companies. Contrary to reports that were published in a Regina newspaper, Prud’homme notes he has never been a partner in SynLogistics, and a correction has been published.

The STA also reports that Prud’homme has worked diligently and at his own expense, to find employment for SynLogistics’ workers. In this effort, the STA indicates that he has canvassed various companies, many of which are currently interviewing the workers. Some drivers, particularly those under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Employee Program, are having their work permits modified by government regulators to allow them to join other companies, according to the STA.

"I just wanted to see them treated right," said Prud’homme. "Nobody was stepping up from their former employer (SynLogistics). I know many of these people. They’re decent and hardworking; they’re (now) on the street with no paycheques."

A longtime supporter of the immigrant worker program, Prud’homme has been involved in recruiting foreign workers for Saskatchewan trucking and associated industries. SynLogistics was not a member of the STA, but the association’s membership has stepped up to offer workers good jobs and benefits to ease their difficulties.

"These workers will get employment with many of our members’ companies; it’s gratifying to see our industry step up in the face of such bad news when a company goes under," said Al Rosseker, STA executive director. "It also says a lot about the calibre of the people in our industry like Denis Prud’homme. His reputation in Canada precedes him…he’s on the phone getting things done. He’s doing this on his own nickel."