Following the release of a recent report from Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, CUPE is calling on the Chinook School Division to adhere to the commissioner’s recommendations, stop stalling, and get back to the bargaining table.
Contract negotiations have stalled since the school division refused to provide out-of-scope salary information to CUPE 4754, representing school division support staff. When these records were sought through an access to information request, the division cited sections of The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP) as rationale for withholding the information.
The Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner reviewed the request and in his Review Report 237-2023 found that the Chinook School Division had inappropriately applied sections of the act and recommended the release of the records in its entirety within 30 days. That deadline has passed, and the division has not adhered to the commissioner’s recommendations and released the records in full.
“The dedicated education support workers in the Chinook School Division just want a fair deal that allows them to keep pace with the rising cost of living,” said Omar Murray, president of CUPE 4754. “These members serve their school communities with pride, and they just want to get a fair deal that allows them to get back to the work they love.”
“Instead of meaningful dialogue at the bargaining table, the division is playing games and continues to withhold information that would help get a fair deal for everyone,” said Dave Stevenson, CUPE National Representative. “The commissioner’s recommendations were clear – the division should release the records in its entirety so we can get back to negotiating a fair and equitable collective agreement.”
