Board ratifies CUPE deal

The Rainy River District School Board ratified a four-year agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) at a brief special meeting here last night.
CUPE Local 65 represents 66 employees of the public board, including maintenance staff, caretakers, secretaries, and accounting staff.

The union had ratified the deal, which runs from Sept. 1, 2008 to Aug. 31, 2012, at a meeting earlier this month.
“The preamble to this is that there was provincial discussion table agreement with CUPE, and those provisions had a certain number of aspects that needed to be in all local deals,” explained Diane Ross, manager of human resources, as she presented the proposed agreement to the board.
“The deal that we’re bringing to you tonight reflects that.”
Locally, said Ross, it means “labour stability” in schools across the board and for those members of CUPE who are employed at the various schools.
“Also locally, we did receive some clarification on language for casual employees,” she noted. “And it particularly means that at a local level, there will be significant input in terms of professional development and a discussion around benefits through a joint committee.”
The agreement will see a salary increase of three percent retroactive to Sept. 1, followed by three percent increases on the same date for 2009, 2010, and 2011.
“I’d just like to comment that as part of the negotiating team, I think it’s a fair settlement for CUPE and the board,” board chair Dan Belluz said prior to the ratification vote.