FREDERICTON, NB - CUPE 2745, which represents 3,300 educational support staff, is disappointed that the conciliation board report, released this week, did not address the issue of hours of work for its members.
“Although we reject the conciliation board report, we are ready to go back to the table to resume negotiations with the government,” said Sandy Harding, president of CUPE Local 2745.
“Our mandate remains the same – the implementation of the MacKay Report on inclusive education which recommends full-time hours for the educational support staff,” explained Harding.
The MacKay Report, which is an independent third party report, makes a plea for full-time support staff (36.25 hours) in order to have a truly inclusive education system. The report recognizes that the teacher assistants are the primary service providers for many of the day-to-day support services to students, and points out that the limited hours of work prevent them from being included as full participants in the educational team.
“We are extremely disappointed that the conciliation board did not address the workload and responsibilities of school and district administrative support staff, or the staffing of our school libraries,” added Harding.
“We are now calling on Premier Shawn Graham to live up to his 2006 election promise. Shawn Graham promised in his Charter for Change that, if elected, his party would endorse and implement the recommendations of the MacKay Report,” said Harding.
“As of next week, our members will be taking work-to-rule actions and will have information pickets during non-working hours until the Premier comes through with his commitment toward the educational support staff,” concluded Harding.
For more information, contact:
Sandy Harding
CUPE 2745 president
Tel: (506) 654-0695
Danielle Savoie
CUPE Communications
Tel : (506) 381-1966
