WATERLOO, Ont. – Waterloo Catholic District School Board workers voted 91 per cent last night in favour of strike action, if a deal cannot be reached between Local 2512 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and school board management.
“Our strong strike mandate shows that our members are determined to fight for a fair contract,” said Linda Thurston-Neeley, CUPE national representative. “Downloading additional responsibilities to overworked workers is yet another sign that the board is out of touch with what is going on in the schools.”
The board wants to download the supervision of students to education assistants (EAs) and other support staff, without increasing their hours. Local 2512 also represents secretaries, librarians, child and youth care workers and technicians. Hours of work, wages and management concession demands are the other outstanding issues. The workers’ last contract expired on August 31, 2005.
“It’s unfair for trustees to vote to double their own income while they try to download additional duties to front-line workers,” said Thurston-Neeley. “Management must take their unfair demands off the table, otherwise our members will be forced to take strike action to defend quality education.” Conciliation talks are scheduled for October 5th.
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For further information, please contact:
Linda Thurston-Neeley
CUPE National Representative
519-743-7781
James Chai
CUPE Communications
416-292-3999