A tentative agreement aimed at producing a new local collective agreement has been reached following talks between CUPE 4299 and the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence (CscProvidence).

The parties took part in 13 bargaining sessions, the most recent of which lasted more than 24 hours.

CUPE 4299 represents 605 members employed as education workers at the CscProvidence.  The school board has a network of 23 elementary schools and seven French-language Catholic schools in the regions of Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton/Sarnia, London-Middlesex-Elgin, Woodstock/Oxford, Huron-Perth and Grey-Bruce. 

The tentative agreement still has to be ratified by members of CUPE 4299 and by the school councillors of the CscProvidence. Details of the agreement will not be made available until ratification by all parties, which should be completed by late December.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of these negotiations,” declared Anthony Cutrone, President of CUPE 4299. “This collective agreement recognizes the crucial importance of the work done by our members and ensures services to students of CscProvidence.”