School workers vote for service agreement with Canada’s largest union
PEACE RIVER, Alta. Members of the staff association at the Peace River Public School District have voted to enter into a service agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
At a membership meeting earlier this month, members of the Peace River Support Staff Association gave their executive a mandate to negotiate a two-year servicing agreement with CUPE. The Association has approximately 170 members who provide clerical, administrative, educational, transportation & maintenance support to the school district.
Under a service agreement, association members pay full CUPE dues and receive all the services of CUPE. After the two-year period is complete, association members will vote on full membership with CUPE.
Carmen Geisser-Smith, President of the Association, said the move was made to bring a higher level of expertise to the service of our members.
As times change, we need to change too, said Geisser-Smith. Our members need negotiating expertise, legal expertise, communications, research, and health and safety expertise.
We feel CUPE can provide that expertise.-30-