(Port Hastings) The Strait Regional School Board may have yet another headache on its hands, after unsuccessful conciliation talks with the union representing some 400 school board workers this week.
CUPE National Rep. Terry Goulding says, while some progress was made, there are a couple of key issues still outstanding wages and vacations.
Says Goulding, When these school board workers are compared to their counterparts across Nova Scotia, there are some major differences in rates of pay. In particular, bus drivers and Student Program Assistants are working for much lower wages than others in the sector, says Goulding.
With the all the media coverage lately about senior managers at the board getting huge pay-cheques and secret deals, frontline school board workers are saying what were asking for is fair and reasonable, and quite modest in comparison, says Goulding.
Cupe Local 955 represents all classifications other than teachers at the Strait Board; Janitors, Bus Drivers, Secretaries, Library Techs. and Student Program Assistants.
CUPE has scheduled a membership meeting for January 6th in which the union will recommend rejection of the employers final offer and will take a vote.
For information:
Terry Goulding, CUPE National Representative
(902) 752-2244 (o)John McCracken, CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)