November 18, 1999, SurreyP00690063006bets will go up at Semiahmoo Senior Secondary today at 3:00 pm (November 18, 1999), the second action by CUPE non-teaching staff in Surrey to affect the community’s continuing education programs.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused to people who are taking night programs,” said Susan Zander, President of CUPE Local 728. “Unfortunately, we are pushed to take this action by a school board refusing to bargain in a reasonable manner.”
CUPE’s non-teaching staff in Surrey have been trying to negotiate a fair collective agreement since their contract expired last year. The Surrey School Board is no more willing to listen to CUPE than they were the BC Supreme Court.
“Having already spent $850,000 in what has so far been a losing battle to ban books, the board is now continuing to ignore the real education issues by applying their same tactics to bargaining with those who maintain the school board’s services.” said Bill Harper, CUPE’s negotiator in Surrey.
CUPE has engaged in rotating strike action this week saying they are waiting for the results of the November 20th School board elections before escalating the strike.
CUPE Local 728 represents 2300 maintenance, clerical support, teaching assistants, bus drivers, attendants and custodial staff. Their contract expired in December 1998.
Semiahmoo Senior Secondary School is located at 1748 - 148th Street, Surrey.
Information: Bill Harper-CUPE negotiator (604)341-4869 or Susan Zander president, CUPE 728, (604)838-5538