Support workers who provide IT, custodial, clerical and educational assistance to students, administrators and teachers have finally reached a deal with School District 43, although they are one of the last CUPE branches in the province to do so.
CUPE Local 561 president Dave Ginter said the 91% vote to approve the new contract doesn't mean it's a good deal but one that held the line against concessions that were being requested by SD43 management.
Only 372 people out of about 1,500 workers voted on the deal on Sunday, the deadline for ratification for CUPE workers to get the provincial deal that was hammered out last spring. It provides for a five-year-term ending June 30, 2019 with wage increases following the framework of 5.5% over five years.
The increases are to be fully-funded by the province and workers who lost wages during the teachers' strike/lockout will be reimbursed.
