(Truro) School board workers with the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board have given their union a 77% strike mandate.
In doing so, the 400 full-time and part-time school board workers have strongly rejected the boards so-called final offer. The two main issues in dispute are job security and wages. The boards offer on job security would leave the employees with the worst language in the sector.
The offer on wages is a 2% increase in each year of a three-year deal, which is even less than what was awarded to health care workers through the Final Offer Selection process. Arbitrator Susan Ashley awarded the health care workers a 7.5% wage increase.
Says CUPE National Representative Terry Goulding, We are going back to the bargaining table now, armed with this strong strike mandate from the membership of Local 3890. Clearly, this vote indicates that employees of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board feel their hard work and dedication is not being recognized.
For the last two years in a row, our school bus drivers have received awards of excellence and this board is now talking about contracting out its bus operations. Something is definitely wrong with this picture, says Goulding.
For information:
Terry Goulding, CUPE National Representative
(902) 755-2158 (h)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)