As many of you are aware, bargaining a new Collective Agreement has been delayed for CUPE School Division Sector Locals, including Local 4701 and Prairie Rose School Division. This has been due to the threat of Bill 28, the Public Sector Sustainability Act (PSSA). We are glad to confirm that this Act was struck down in the Courts and deemed unconstitutional.  However, the Government is currently appealing this decision.

Furthermore, the Pandemic has created an economic hardship that has many School Divisions in Manitoba implying there may be restraints on wage increases.

Nevertheless, the Bargaining Committee of Local 4701 is recommending that the Local and the Division should proceed with bargaining,  striving to achieve the most optimal language as well as putting our best foot forward with respect to wages and benefits.

Your Local 4701 Bargaining Committee has worked hard to produce proposals based on member feedback. The Committee is now at an advanced stage of preparation and is close to finalizing proposals ready to exchange with the Division.  With the cooperation of the Division, the Committee anticipates that bargaining for 4701 members could begin early in the New Year.

The Bargaining Committee welcomes feedback from members. It would be much appreciated. Please keep any correspondence regarding bargaining within the Local membership.

Your Local 4701 Bargaining Committee

Tracey Stephen

Murielle MacMillian

Charlene Spraggs

Shelly McKay

Monique Dequire

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May your home be filled with warmth, love and happiness during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Amid these times of unprecedented challenges, may you stay healthy and safe.

Your Executive would like to wish everyone the warmest of greetings and best wishes in the New Year.

Good afternoon,

As per the cancellation of numerous events and closures of establishments and that PRSD is in Code Red, your Executive Committee has cancelled our November GM and must continue to defer the AGM at this time. The continuous struggle is ongoing as conditions are changing daily. However, we are working to fulfil the duties of the Union as best as we can and are continuing to explore options that can facilitate a safe, productive, and fair AGM and election process.

These options include conducting the AGM and election by;

• Virtual AGM, using an independent online vendor, which would require members to be able to log in online and/or use telephone voting options;
• Nominations forwarded to the Elections Committee by email, then an election period for in-person voting at ballot boxes in schools. This option could be considered when the Province moves out of Code Red and allows members, adjudicators, and election committee representatives free access within schools.
• Your Executive Committee invites feedback from all members on the suitability of these options, and/or suggestions for any other processes that could be considered as an alternative to our usual AGM process. Please feel free to contact us and discuss with your local area representatives.
• We would like all of our members to stay safe and healthy and we felt it prudent to suspend meetings until all our members can fully participate in the work of our Union. We also understand that at this time, we all have taken on extra work and personal challenges due to Covid.
• We encourage all our members to continue to contact your workplace representatives and your Executive Committee throughout these challenging times.

Thank you,

Executive Committee

Good evening,

At our November 4, 2020 Executive Meeting, the Committee reviewed
meal expense receipts.

As per Section 13 (e) of our By Laws, a receipt must be submitted and the per diems are stated. Although it does not state what is to be stated on the receipt, we have always inferred that it should be itemized. This is not only to help our Auditors but to keep us all accountable to our Local.

On a going forward basis as of November 5, 2020, meal expenses will only be paid if the meal receipt is itemized and we will not pay for food that is considered groceries nor receipts that is labelled meat or other single item grocery purchases.

Thank you,

Executive Committee