Support staff in Manitoba call for fair contract ahead of new school year

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School support staff in five school divisions in Manitoba have now voted in favour of strike action, calling for contract negotiations to be resolved ahead of the new school year.

“School support staff have been working incredibly hard to keep our schools and children safe during the pandemic, yet the Pallister government continues to try to prevent school divisions from settling staff contracts fairly,” says Lee McLeod, CUPE Regional Director. “School support staff are feeling ignored and disrespected by the government, and are voting to strike for fairness.”

School support staff who now have strike mandates include the Brandon School Division; custodians and trades at the Winnipeg School Division; custodians, library techs, bus drivers, IT, and clerical at the Seven Oaks School Division; and support staff at Turtle Mountain and Park West School Divisions in the Westman area.

School support staff have been without a new contract since 2018, as a result of Pallister’s unconstitutional interference in collective bargaining. Support staff are asking for wage increases in line with recently settled teachers’ contracts.

No dates for a strike have yet been set.

There is another way. 

“Some school divisions have offered fair wages and settled negotiations without the cloud of Pallister’s wage mandate holding them down,” said McLeod. These include the St. James-Assiniboia School Division, Interlake School Division, Turtle River School Division, and Evergreen School Division. “School divisions should be unafraid to exercise their locally elected voices by supporting the staff who have helped carry our schools through the year.”

Please attend Aug. 4 Zoom meeting, Bargaining Committee will urge to reject Division counter proposal, vote for strike mandate

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Good afternoon,

Prairie Rose School Division has rejected Local 4701’s Bargaining Committee proposals that were presented on June 24th.

The Division has counter offered with 0%, 0%, .75% and 1%.

At the August 4th, 7:00 pm zoom meeting, the Bargaining Committee will be strongly urging our members to reject the Division’s counter proposal and to vote for a strike mandate. A strike mandate means that the members of the Union have given their Bargaining Committee the power to initiate job action.

Please inform all of your fellow Brothers and Sisters to attend this very important meeting.

Thank you,

Your Bargaining Committee Representative’s are:
Tracey Stephen
Samantha Milling
Murielle MacMillian
Shelly McKay
Monique Dequire
National Rep: Stephen Terichow Parrott

Important Meeting August 4, 7 p.m.

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Greetings,

On June 24th, the Division received our Union’s proposals. They are having a Special Meeting on July 21st with the Board along with the quorum of Trustees that are needed to discuss and decide.

Your Bargaining Committee has decided to wait until July 22nd to ascertain their response. We will then host a zoom meeting for all members on August 4th at 7:00 pm to bring forth the Division’s decision.
At that time, we will be asking our members to either ratify or reject the Division’s proposal(s).

We understand the lateness involved as we have to give our members at least a 7 day notice of a meeting. Also, with summer holidays in play, we are arduously trying to accommodate everyone’s schedule(s).

Please book your calendar for August 4th at 7:00 pm and forward your personal email to Murielle (murimacmillan@gmail.com) so she can add your name to the zoom meeting list.

In conclusion, please let all your fellow Brothers and Sisters know of this very important upcoming zoom meeting on August 4th.

In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee