On June 14, 2023, CUPE Local 5047 President Chris Melanson made the following statement:
After more than a month of job action, CUPE Local 5047 and the Halifax Regional Centre for Education have reached a tentative agreement. This agreement was made possible by the fierce determination of school support staff in HRM, whose strike action forced government and the HRCE back to the bargaining table. It is only because of CUPE members’ job action that there was any willingness from government to make improvements on the deal members rejected decisively in May.
School support staff work in extremely challenging situations, which they meet daily with grace and kindness. These experiences prepared them well for this extremely challenging time.
CUPE 5047 members know from our work with students that consistent positive changes can lead to transformation. This agreement offers one possible step towards the change we need to see in the education sector. It’s now up to the members to have their say on this tentative agreement. No details of the agreement will be released to the public until members have had the chance to see it and vote on it. Members will be notified of vote locations and times directly.
We know the last five weeks have been extremely difficult not only for school support workers, but also for parents and students in the Halifax region. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to our communities for their support and persistence throughout this challenging round of negotiations. Our members have been bolstered and encouraged by your kindness and extend their sincere gratitude to our supporters.