(Sydney) The union representing striking members of CUPE Local 5050 says the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board (CBVRSB) is trying to mislead the public about the offer it has made to its employees.
CUPE national representative Kathy Macleod says, It is totally misleading for the board to say that it made the same wage offer to all members of Local 5050.
They presented an offer that had wage parity adjustments for four classifications only. They did not make the same offer to everyone and for them to say otherwise is dishonest.
As well, MacLeod says that parents and the public need to understand that there is critical information that the board left out of their newspaper ads. For instance:
- The CUPE locals who have accepted deals already have what were trying to achieve at this board wage parity adjustments.
- CUPE members at both the Chignecto and Annapolis Boards received an extra 1.5 per cent in wage parity adjustments plus a number of other monetary improvements that arent being offered by the Cape Breton-Victoria Board.
- School board workers at the Halifax school board have a completely different funding mechanism through HRM, and as a result make significantly higher wages.
Says MacLeod, In short, CUPEs argument is not with the general wage increase that all locals are receiving the 2.9 per cent, it is with the wage parity adjustments that arent being offered to members of Local 5050.
For information:
Kathy MacLeod, CUPE National Rep., (902) 539-4933 (o), (902)578-3304 (Cell);
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep., (902) 455-4180 (o), (902) 222-8457 (Cell).