BIRTLE, Man. The support staff in the Park West School Division have firmly rejected a wage and benefit offer that they say treats them differently than other division employees.
The staff who provide classroom assistance to teachers, clean and maintain schools and drive buses for students are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, CUPE Local 3037.
We just want to be treated fair and like other staff in the Division, said Jean Nash, President of CUPE Local 3037. We have one employer and all staff should be treated the same.
The teachers settled their collective agreement with the Division recently, and were able to reach parity for teachers from the two old divisions that merged into one new division in 2002.
According to Doug McLaughlin, CUPE Representative, we know its possible and practical to merge the wages and benefits of the staff, just like the Division did for the teachers. Other divisions are doing it for their support staff. Its a matter of fairness!
The final wage and benefits offer the Division presented included wage parity plus only 2% increase in year one of a new collective agreement. Vacations would not be equalized until year four of the agreement.
Both parties will go back into conciliation on April 19th to resolve the issues that continue to prevent an agreement.
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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, child care centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services. About 4,000 of these members work in 25 of Manitobas school divisions.
For information, contact:
Jean Nash, President of CUPE Local 3037 - (204) 759-2165
Doug McLaughlin, CUPE National Rep. - (204) 725-8888
Dennis Lewycky, CUPE Communications Rep. - (204) 223-6805