Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
WINNIPEG - Students at the Edward Schreyer School in Beausejour have joined striking support workers in the Sunrise School Division.

Over 200 students walked out of class this morning in support of their custodians, maintenance staff, bus drivers and teaching assistants. The Principal then locked the students out of their school.

“We are just overwhelmed by the students. They are just great. It means so much to every one of us as they know us and what we do for them and the Division,” said Jackie Hampshire, President of CUPE Local 1618.

The members of CUPE Local 1618 have been on strike since Tuesday. Their clerical colleagues who include library workers and computer technicians in Local CUPE 4456 went on strike at 7 am this morning.

Union representatives, School Division negotiators and a government appointed mediator will return to mediation later today. The Government appointed labour lawyer Michael Werier as the mediator yesterday to help resolve the dispute.

“We started talking yesterday and it’s much too early to say anything about how mediation is going. We’re not going to stop walking the picket line until we get a fair and reasonable settlement to the main issues - wage increases we expect and wage parity,” according to Steve Edwards, CUPE Representative.

- 30 -

For information, contact:
Jackie Hampshire, President of CUPE Local 1618
Ph: (204) 345-8665
Charmaine Hrysio, President of CUPE Local 4456
Ph: (204) 268-0732
Steve Edwards, National Representative
Ph: 942-0343, ext. 212 / Cell: 771-2534