Custodians and cleaners at Rolling River School Division, north of Brandon, are going on strike next week.
In a news release, the union for the employees says its has “notified the school board that they will begin legal strike action on Monday, November 1, 2021, at 12:00 am.”
“We have done everything to try to prevent a strike, but the Rolling River School Division has left us little choice,” said Kevin Jay, President of CUPE 1630, representing the division’s 21 custodians and cleaners. “All we are asking for is the same respect that teachers and other support staff in Manitoba have already received.”
CUPE 1630 says it’s asking for the same four-year deal that teachers across Manitoba received: 1.6%, 1.4%, 0.5%, and cost-of-living adjustment. 24 CUPE locals have already settled this agreement between school divisions in Manitoba and support staff represented by CUPE.
“What we’re feeling is that custodians and cleaners in Rolling River School Division aren’t worth the same as in Winnipeg and other divisions,” said Jay. “We urge the school board to make the right call and offer us the same deal as everyone else so we can focus on our jobs—keeping schools safe and clean.”
The strike will begin at the Minnedosa Collegiate and the Rolling River School Division Board Office at 154 3rd Avenue SE, Minnedosa, Manitoba.
