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North Vancouver parents, students, and education workers can celebrate a decision by the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) that will prevent the planned lay-off of more than 400 North Vancouver School District special education workers.

Cindy McQueen, President of CUPE Local 389, says the IICs decision makes it clear that an employer simply can not get away with issuing mass lay-off notices in efforts to avoid their obligations.

The School District laid off its entire special education work force last month, rather than negotiate the implementation of the four-hour minimum work day as mandated by the IIC.

In its decision, issued yesterday, the IIC directed the School District to rescind the layoff notices that had been issued to 438 employees, and to work with the union on planning the implementation of the four hour minimum shift.

Clearly, this is a major victory, says McQueen. And its not just a victory for the union and the four hundred special education workers whose jobs were saved its a victory for the parents and students who depend on the vital work that these members provide in our schools.

We hope this comes as a lesson to the North Vancouver School Board, adds McQueen. We hope that now they understand that they cant hide from their obligations, and that they wont get away with arbitrary and punitive measures like these.

For more information:

Joe Badali, Office 291-1940, Cellular 240-6422

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