Smoky Lake Negotiations have broken down between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, (CUPE) Local 1461 and the Aspen View Regional Division No. 19.
The main issue in this dispute is fairness, said CUPE National Representative, Don MacAskill. We are just looking for the same wages, benefits and working conditions that other employees in the Aspen View Division are receiving. The Board of Trustees is not willing to do that, he added.
The contract for Local 1461 representing school support workers in Waskatenau, Vilna and Smoky Lake expired on August 31, 2001. After a number of attempts at negotiation, the union has applied for mediation. A meeting with the provincial mediator is set for April 25.
We hope that the inclusion of a government appointed mediator in the process will assist the parties in reaching a fair collective agreement. Fairness is not a lot to ask for, we are asking the School Division Trustees to recognize that fact, said MacAskill.
CUPE Local 1461 represents the school secretaries, teachers aides, maintenance and custodial workers and library workers in the Smoky Lake Ward, including Waskatenau, Vilna, Smoky Lake, and the Smoky Lake Colony School.
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CUPE is Canada’s largest union with over half a million women and men who provide public services. In Alberta, CUPEs 31,000 members work in health care, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, emergency medical services, social services and casinos. Visit our CUPE websites for more information www.cupe.ca and cupealberta.ab.ca
For further information:
Pam Beattie, CUPE Communications
(780) 484-7644 or (780) 288-1230 (cellular)
Don MacAskill, CUPE National Representative
(780) 484-7644