The local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees representing education workers rallied and chanted outside the Timmins office of the English Catholic School Board late Wednesday.
The 130 workers from 13 sites unionized two years ago and say all they want is status quo from what they got then. But they claim the board is demanding cuts to pay and benefits.
The English Catholic Teachers Association was part of the demonstration. Northeastern president René Catt notes that paraprofessionals among the CUPE membership work with special needs students and those who need extra support.
“So they are vital for the daily activities that go on in our classrooms in support of our teachers and most importantly of our students,” Catt remarks.
“It makes absolutely no sense for them to come to the table and basically negotiate through CUPE for a fair deal of what basically what they already have and not ask them to take cuts.”
Without a negotiated agreement, the workers could be locked out or go out on strike the Monday after next.
The board has said it’s not threatening a lockout, and some of the issues are in the collective agreement that’s negotiated for the entire province, before it gets to the local level.
