“This is a strike that didnt need to happen,” said CUPE representative Rik Panciera. “We did everything we could to address the School Divisions concerns. But the School Division made no real attempts to resolve the issue.”
The CUPE employees who work as bus drivers, mechanics and a storeskeeper say without the present contract language there would be nothing to hold the School Division to its verbal assurances that it doesnt intend to contract out the work done by the members bargaining unit.
“The School Division are forcing these members out on the picket line, to take a stand now rather than wait until their jobs are pulled out from under them,” Panciera said. “All they want is to keep doing their work, to keep providing the best possible service they can for students and parents.”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canadas largest union representing more than 485,000 women and men across the country. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 23,000 members in health care, education, municipalities, social services, utilities, libraries and emergency services.
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For more information, please contact:
Rik Panciera, Staff representative
Canadian Union of Public Employees
Phone: (204) 942-0343 ex. 217
/pr
opeiu 491