Staff and students of School District 8 will not have to face picket lines now that a new collective agreement has been ratified between the district and its support staff.
The district and CUPE 748 ratified the agreement, ending a month of mediation. Vote totals weren’t disclosed.
Superintendent Trish Smillie said in a media release she is grateful this process is behind them and now they can get back to business as usual.
“This agreement allows us to get back to creating, and supporting the best learning opportunities we can for every student,” she says.
CUPE local 748 president Michelle Bennett agreed with Smillie’s statement and says ratifying this agreement is a breath of fresh air.
“The bargaining committee worked hard to advocate for improvements to the rights, and benefits of our members,” she says. “There were challenges, but in the end we were able to come together and build the best learning environment for students.”
The renewed agreement is effective until June 30, 2025.
The union’s deadline to finalize ratification was March 15.
Mediation for a new collective agreement took place after union workers voted 98 per cent in favor of a strike earlier this year.
Superintendent Trish Smillie said in a media release she is grateful this process is behind them and now they can get back to business as usual.
“This agreement allows us to get back to creating, and supporting the best learning opportunities we can for every student,” she says.
CUPE local 748 president Michelle Bennett agreed with Smillie’s statement and says ratifying this agreement is a breath of fresh air.
“The bargaining committee worked hard to advocate for improvements to the rights, and benefits of our members,” she says. “There were challenges, but in the end we were able to come together and build the best learning environment for students.”
The renewed agreement is effective until June 30, 2025.
The union’s deadline to finalize ratification was March 15.
Mediation for a new collective agreement took place after union workers voted 98 percent in favor of a strike earlier this year.