School board workers with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) have asked the Ministry of Labour to issue a N006f Board’ report, which means contract talks will now move to mediation.
The 163 members of CUPE Local 256 have asked for a mediator because little or no progress is being made in bargaining with the school board.
Once the report is issued, the clock will start ticking toward a possible strike.
The CUPE school board workers are caretakers, cleaners, painters, electricians, plumbers, truck drivers and groundskeepers with the public school board.
The main issue is seniority. The employer is seeking major concessions in this longstanding clause in their contract.
Says CUPE National Rep. Duncan Haslam, “The issue of seniority cuts to the heart of any union contract. This employer better think twice about trying to monkey around with such a fundamental issue.”