LONDON Contracting out custodial services to low-waged labour does not reflect the Church teachings on the value of work and the right to a fair and just wage, say school board custodial workers with the London District Catholic School Board who want the practice to stop.
London Catholic board custodians are members of Local 4186 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). They provide custodial services, in addition to doing repair maintenance and trades work, at the majority of Londons Catholic elementary and secondary schools.
The London Catholic board contracts out custodial services at nine area schools and is currently undergoing a bid process to outsource the work at a newly constructed school. Local 4186 members believe that the contracting out undermines, and is contrary to, Catholic social teachings that stress the importance of workers and how their labour should not be seen simply as a means to fulfill an economic function.
The bottom line is that this Catholic school board is not living and putting into practice what the Church says about the value of work in our society. Were saying they must live the faith in every aspect of their boards operation. This includes the right of Catholic board workers to do similar work at new schools, says Sid Ryan, the Ontario president of CUPE, who is in London from April 21-24, attending a province-wide education workers conference.
Ryan will join members of CUPE Local 4186, and other education support workers from across Ontario, for the Live the faith. Stop contracting out. rally tomorrow, Thursday, April 22, beginning at 12:00 noon.
WHO:
Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario, CUPE Local 4186 Custodial/Trades and Support Workers with the London District Catholic Board
WHAT:
Live the faith. Stop contracting out. Rally
WHEN:
Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 12:00 noon
WHERE:
Monsignor Feeney Centre for Catholic Education
165 Elmwood Avenue East
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario
(416) 209-0066
Rosemary Van Niekerk, President, CUPE Local 4186
(519) 679-4186
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774