Heavy hearts re: passing of CUPE member

It is with heavy hearts that we inform our members of the sudden passing of our CUPE sister, Amanda Fawcett.

She was a member of the St. Laurent Community and an EA at the St. Laurent Community School.

She thoroughly enjoyed attending the CUPE Conference in Russell last year and made numerous friends at that function.

She will be dearly missed by all that knew her and she touched the lives of many.

Our hearts go out to her family, friends, co-workers and the students at St. Laurent Community School.

Bargaining Update Jan. 15, 2025

Dear Members,

We wanted to provide you with a brief update regarding our ongoing negotiations.

Yesterday, January 14, 2025, we virtually met with the Division to continue discussions. Unfortunately, the offer they presented is not encouraging. They are not offering any significant improvements, and, in fact, some classifications would receive less than what was initially proposed.

The Negotiating Committee immediately informed the Division that this offer is unacceptable and cannot be brought back to our membership. At this point, we are preparing for conciliation and working on another proposal to address these concerns.

Please rest assured that the Negotiating Committee remains committed to advocating for fair and equitable wages for all members. We will not relent in our efforts.

At this time, we do not have a date as of yet to meet with a Conciliatory or with the Division and we will provide further updates as soon as possible.

In solidarity,
Tracey Stephen
On behalf of the Negotiating Committee

Bargaining Update

Dear Members,

We wanted to provide you with an update following our meeting with the Division today.

During the meeting, your Negotiation Committee presented a new package aimed at securing improved wages beyond what we currently have. While the Division acknowledged our efforts, they also expressed their challenges regarding budget constraints, funding limitations, and other financial responsibilities.

The Division has requested additional time to review and cost out our proposal. As a result, we are scheduled to reconvene on

January 14, 2025, when the Division will provide their decision. At that time, we anticipate they will either return with a counterproposal or opt to proceed to conciliation.

While the outcome remains uncertain, we want to reassure you that the tone at the table remains friendly and understanding. No one is going on strike at this time and the Division is not locking anyone out. Your Negotiation Committee is committed to advocating for the best possible outcome for all members and will continue to represent your interests diligently.

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience. We will keep you informed as developments unfold. We would also like to use this medium to advise all members and/or groups to resist the urge to send individual proposals or requests to the Division as this is counter-productive to what we hope to achieve as a GROUP.

In solidarity,

Tracey Stephen, 
President
Together with your CUPE Local 4701 Bargaining Committee