Tentative deal for Ontario education workers; Saskatchewan school workers join CUPE
Women’s shelter staff in Ontario join Unifor
ATIKOKAN, Ont. — Nine staff members at a women’s shelter in Northwestern Ontario voted to join Unifor on March 30.
Workers at the Rainy River District Women’s Shelter of Hope in Atikokan, Ont. voted to join Unifor in an online ballot. The workers provide supports for families in crisis, including shelter, a crisis line, counselling and supports and also assist with fundraising, says the union.
“Representing the workers in women’s shelters is a natural fit for Unifor, and we look forward to giving these workers a voice in the workplace,” says, Unifor organizing director Kellie Scanlan.
AUPE, Revera agree on single-site rule
EDMONTON — The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) and Revera reached an agreement on April 6 that limits employees to working at one continuing-care site during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The union and employer signed a letter of understanding at the weekend. We believe it will protect these front-line workers from losing income they need, while Revera will have workers that work only at their sites,” says Mike Dempsey, vice-president of AUPE, which represents more than 95,000 workers. “Many of these workers have two or three part-time jobs at different care facilities.”
The agreement comes after three days of talks at the Alberta Labour Relations Board. It says that AUPE members who choose to work at Revera and lose hours at their other jobs, will be given more hours, up to a 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE), says the union.
Saskatchewan school workers join CUPE
TURTLEFORD, Sask. — The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 4797 welcomed new members into its ranks on April 7 after a successful organizing drive in the Saskatchewan Northwest School Division.
CUPE’s organizing drive, which started in November, added 43 workers in numerous classifications at the Turtleford Community School in Turtleford, Sask. and wellness coordinators across the school division to the CUPE 4797 bargaining unit, says the union.
“In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that workers have a voice in the workplace,” says Tony Head, CUPE national organizer. “We will continue to reach out to unorganized workers in our school division to ensure that all support staff enjoy the benefits of union representation.”
CUPE represents more than 7,000 education support workers across Saskatchewan.
Tentative deal for Ontario education workers
TORONTO — The Ontario Council of Education Workers (OCEW) reached a tentative agreement with the Council of Trustees’ Association (CTA) and the Ontario government on April 4 on terms for a new collective agreement.
“We were able to make improvements for our members, and though exceedingly difficult, the tentative deal was achieved under both the cloud of Bill 124 and in the midst of a deadly pandemic. A charter challenge remains intact contesting the legality of that bill,” says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU president.
OPSEU represents about 6,500 members in nine locals and affiliate members who are all included in the deal, says the union.
Bargaining began in September 2019 and the latest round of negotiations were conducted via tele-conferencing to ensure social distancing. Further details of the deal will be provided upon ratification, says OPSEU.
The Ontario Council of Educational Workers is a bargaining council made up of seven unions representing more than 7,000 workers at public and Catholic school boards across Ontario.
