CUPE Local 796 members in Winnipeg voted to accept a new deal with the River East School Division just before Christmas ending their six-week long strike.
Our job security is there. Our spares (casual employees) are protected. And we still have a closed shop during the school year. They cant just bring in a driver (for our buses), president Ann Rubiletz said.
The new agreement guarantees that no employee will lose their job or suffer a reduction in hours as a result of any future contracting out. All eight casual employees are also protected.
The 52 members who work as bus drivers, mechanics and a stores keeper also got three days of statutory holiday pay over Christmas even though they didnt return to work until January.
The deal was struck after a day of conciliation talks and members voted on it during a Christmas party organized for members children. Rubiletz said members were thankful for all the support from CUPE locals as well as other unions.