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CARMAN - The Manitoba Labour Board is conducting a representation vote in December to determine whether or not the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will represent all support workers in the Prairie Rose School Division.

Amalgamation of the school divisions by the province in 2002 led to a situation where the union representing support staff had to be restructured.

According to CUPE Local 4458 President Peter Dyck, weve been waiting for this for over a year - were looking forward to the vote and then getting on with our work.

Involved in the vote will be about 200 support staff in the Division - those who work in the classroom (Educational Assistants, Paraprofessionals and Interpreter Tutors) and the other support staff who provide the backup and technical input to running the schools (Clerical, Technical, Custodial, Bus Drivers, Secretaries, etc.).

CUPE has been representing all support staff in the former White Horse Plains School Division, and bus drivers in the former Midland School Division. Some Educational Assistants from the former Midland School Division have been organized in an informal association and other staff have no representation.

Obviously we want to see the union continue to represent us, says Dyck. When we have formal union representation it means we have a clearer and better arrangement between staff and the employer. If we are left on our own it means everyone is a little uncomfortable, no one is really sure what is expected of us on the job.

The representation vote will be held in 13 schools within the division on December 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

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The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canadas largest union representing more than a half-million women and men. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members working in health care facilities, school divisions, municipal services, social services, childcare centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services. About 4,000 of these members work in 25 of Manitobas School Divisions.

For information, contact:
Lorraine Sigurdson, CUPE Education Representative at (204) 942-0343 D
ennis Lewycky, CUPE Communications at (204) 223-6805