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WINNIPEG - Twenty-two CUPE members who work as Early Childhood Educators at Seven Oaks Child Day Care Centre Inc. have settled their first contract and will receive wage increases of between 9 to 12.5 percent.

It took some time to work out this deal but it is a great settlement. These workers really deserve this wage increase,” says CUPE staff representative Murray Craddock.

Craddock says the one-year agreement is retroactive to July of last year. The workers, all women, chose to become CUPE members 18 months ago and are part of composite Local 1543 which covers eight child care workplaces. CUPE Local 1543 President Lori Schroen says contracts with good wage increases such as this one are good because they send an important message.

We’re educating and caring for society’s most valuable asset - our children. Yet we’re paid less than meter readers or truck drivers,” says Schroen. “We’re skilled, trained professionals and we should be paid what our work is worth.”

CUPE is Canada’s largest union representing more than a half-million women and men across the country. In Manitoba, the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 24,000 members who work in health care, education, municipalities, social services, child care, utilities, libraries and emergency services.

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For more information, contact:
Murray Craddock, CUPE staff representative
(204) 942-0343 ext. 209 or Cell: (204) 981-6031