WINNIPEG – The six members of CUPE working at the Nor’West Early Learning and Child Care Centre voted unanimously last week to accept an offer that would give them a four-year collective agreement.
The new collective agreement includes wage increases of 2.5%, 2%, 2% and 2% until 2010 with wage re-openers based on government funding. The members also received $1,000 signing bonuses and an increase of hours in their workweek from 37.5 hours to 40 hours.
The agreement includes giving the employees an employer paid pension plan through the Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan (HEPP).
According to Wally Skomoroh, CUPE National Representative, “this is a ground breaking agreement. We have established that childcare workers deserve a pension plan and can achieve such gains.”
“Much of the credit has to go to members who recognize the value of deferred wages and the employer for caring about providing for their employees’ future”.
Margaret Good, Shop Steward for the members at Nor’West said, “the membership is thrilled with this contract”.
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The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than a half-million women and men. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 24,000 members working in health care facilities, school divisions, municipal services, social services, child care centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services.
For information, contact: Wally Skomoroh, CUPE National Representative at 942-0343, ext. 212; Dennis Lewycky, CUPE Communications at 942-0343 (Cell. 333-5065)