YORK REGION, Ont. – Two union locals reached tentative agreements with the York Region School Board yesterday. Members of Local 1196 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will be voting on whether or not to accept the offer on Sunday afternoon. Members of CUPE Local 1734 will vote on Monday.
CUPE Local 1196 represents custodians, maintenance staff, grass cutters, electricians, and many others. CUPE Local 1734 represents secretaries, technicians, library staff, educational assistants and others.
“This was one of the hardest bargaining sessions we have ever had,” said Mary Cromwell, the president of Local 1196. “The bargaining committee worked hard and put in long hours to get an agreement that we can recommend to our members.”
On November 12, over 1,000 workers, members of the two locals, voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike if agreements could not be reached.
“I believe it is a fair settlement,” said Local 1734 administrator Lorne Trevors. “I’m proud of the bargaining committee and proud of the membership for the support they gave us.”
CUPE represents over 180,000 workers in Ontario, many of whom work for school boards, municipalities, and health care facilities.
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For more information, please contact:
Shannon McManus
CUPE Communications
(416) 292-3999, ext. 278
(416) 455-8247