Strike averted in Kootenay Lake School District as sides reach settlement
By Contributor
Members of CUPE Local 4165 in the School District 5 (Southeast Kootenay) and CUPE Local 748 School District 8 (Kootenay Lake) both achieved settlements with their respective employers and will be voting on ratification of collective agreements early this week.
“It was thanks to the dedication and solidarity of our members that we were able to achieve a settlement,” said Michelle Bennett, President of CUPE Local 748. “It is up to the members now. We are holding ratification meetings this week and will know the vote by 7 p.m, Wednesday, December 18th.”
CUPE Local 748 has been on strike alert going into bargaining late last week. The Local held rallies in Nelson and Creston that called for a fair deal for Kootenay schools.
“Once we achieve a collective agreement our work defending public education continues,” said Bennett. “CUPE will be working to pressure the BC Government to properly fund BC schools.”
Most recent to vote in favour of a collective agreement are CUPE Local 723 with School District 72 (Campbell River), CUPE Local 727 with School District 10 (Alberni), and CUPE Local 2145 with School District 54 (Bulkley Valley). Across BC, out of CUPE 57 K-12 bargaining units, 56 settlements are now in place. Of these, 48 are now ratified and 8 await ratification.
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