It has been reported to the union that the Board has not shifted off its position of attacking our 1999 settlement.
We are being forced to fight the battle of 1999 all over again and this is grossly unfair to everyone involved.
The Trustees have no mandate from voters for this attack.
It is deplorable that Trustees would rather close the entire school system than call off their attack on the 1999 settlement.
Over the past two years, the Board has had no difficulty living with the contract language on job security. The Board=s attempt to roll back this contract language is prolonging the strike unnecessarily.
The Board has utter disregard for the upheaval it is causing in the lives of tens of thousands of families.
The Board=s treatment of its employees is a disgrace.
A negotiated settlement is achievable: there is no reason to rollback the 1999 contract language on job security and the Board has sufficient funds to offer a wage settlement comparable to the teachers settlements.
The union calls on the Board to send its negotiators back to the bargaining table.
CUPE 4400 remains committed to reaching a fair settlement as soon as possible.