School Sector

News and information about our School Division sector.

Provincial budget reflects needs of Manitobans, invests in services.

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The Manitoba Government’s 2015 provincial budget was released on April 30th, and reflects the NDP’s commitment to working families across the province.

“Our NDP government is a strong steward of the economy” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba. “Manitobans want government to invest in core services and infrastructure, and that is exactly what this government is doing”.

The provincial budget is the implementation of the government’s vision for the next year, as well as commitments to long-term and short-term investments.

“Being part of a national union, CUPE members in Manitoba know that other governments have recently implemented deep cuts to government services which particularly impact society’s most vulnerable people” said Moist. “The Manitoba NDP has committed to supporting the services that Manitobans rely on”.

Of particular note are the unprecedented investments in infrastructure that will create jobs, stimulate the economy, raise wages across the province, improve road safety, protect Manitobans against floods, and improve other aspects of our provincial infrastructure.

The budget announced continued investments in childcare spaces in Manitoba, significant funding increases for acute health care and long-term care, as well as increased funding to education and post-secondary education.

The province made good on a commitment to eliminate interest on Manitoba student loans, making post-secondary education more accessible, and once again increases the minimum wage.

Additionally, the province has acted on recommendations from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ “View from Here”, endorsed by CUPE Manitoba, enhancing Rent Assist by $22 million to move it to 75% of median market rent.

“We are pleased that this government chooses to invest in the community, from infrastructure to childcare” said Moist. “This government understands the value of a diverse economy that supports families as well as economic growth”.

CUPE Manitoba represents approximately 25,000 public sector workers in health care, municipalities, school divisions, energy, airlines, social services and childcare, post-secondary education, and more.

Federal budget rewards the rich but fails every day Canadians

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via CUPE.ca


Ottawa, ON – The Conservative’s 2015 federal budget may balance the books, but it is highly unbalanced in its impact on Canadians.  It puts millions of seniors at risk of poverty, abandons families in need of affordable child care and quality public health care, and doesn’t help Canadians workers who need better jobs, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

“The Conservatives have chosen irresponsible economic policies that slash revenues to benefit a few corporations and the wealthy,” says Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, Canada’s largest union. “This budget does far more harm than good in addressing the gap between workers and the richest Canadians. With this budget, that gap will only continue to grow.”

Maintaining unreasonably low corporate taxes, income splitting, tax credits for wealthy families like the expanded TFSA’s provide no help for every day Canadians.  These measures recklessly slash federal revenues that will mean more cuts to public services that Canadians depend on.

“Expanding TFSA does almost nothing to help the over 11 million Canadians without a work place pension. Instead of expanding the Canada Pension Plan – widely seen as the most effective, efficient and affordable way to keep seniors out of poverty – the Conservatives only offer another tax shelter for the rich,” says Moist. “The lost revenues from expanding TFSA’s – at least $1 billion over the next five years – will only mean more pressure on OAS/GIS. This budget is an unqualified failure for the vast majority of Canadian seniors.”

Canadian families struggling to find affordable child care are also left without any help.

“Families are spending more on child care than on housing – up to $2000 a month. This means the tax credit being offered up by Conservatives will barely cover one month. And that will be for only handful of families; most won’t get a dime,” says Moist.

The Conservatives lack of leadership on child care is even more pronounced in health care. Despite long waiting lists, five million Canadians without a family doctor, and skyrocketing prescription drug prices, the 2015 federal budget confirms Conservatives are cutting more than $36 billion from health care.

“We need strong federal leadership to strengthen our public health care system,” says Moist. “Our public health care is coming apart at the seams, and Conservatives simply shrug their shoulders hoping someone else will take care of it.”

CUPE is urging the Official Opposition to move budget amendments that will help create quality jobs, make urgent investments in public health care and child care, expand the CPP, and introduce measures that protect valued public services.

“This budget is clearly taking our country in the wrong direction. It fails workers, families, seniors, students, Indigenous peoples and the environment,” says Moist. “The only bright side is that with our pending federal election, this will be the Conservatives last budget. Next budget, we’ll be able to start repairing the damage done. It’s time for a change.”

CUPE’s complete analysis of the 2015 federal budget will be available on cupe.ca.

For more information:

Greg Taylor
CUPE Media Relations
613 818-0067
gtaylor@cupe.ca

CUPE Manitoba Welcomes New Members at the Western School Division

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WINNIPEG – Educational Assistants at the Western School Division chose to become members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees in a vote held by the Manitoba Labour Board on Wednesday.

“We are honoured to welcome our newest members to CUPE” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, “CUPE is a strong union for school sector support staff, and we look forward to representing the Educational Assistants at the Western School Division.”

CUPE will now represent approximately 64 Educational Assistants at the Western School Division, in addition to over 5,000 school sector support staff in communities across Manitoba.

CUPE Manitoba represents over 25,000 members in Manitoba, including school divisions, municipalities, health care, social services, crown corporations, and post-secondary education.

Celebrating School Support Staff Recognition Week

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270965_649636578384159_1733082272_nThanks to the hard work of the School Division Sector of CUPE Manitoba, the provincial government has proclaimed November 18 – 22 as the first-ever School Support Staff Recognition Week.

To help celebrate and raise awareness, CUPE Manitoba has launched a radio ad, highlighting the week, and the work our members do! The ad will be aired in Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba, the Interlake, Brandon, The Pas, and Dauphin.

Click here: CUPE Radio to listen to the CUPE Manitoba radio ad.

Click here for the full government news release.

School Support Staff Week declared in Manitoba

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Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger announced the establishment of “School Support Staff Week” following his remarks at the CUPE Manitoba 50th Anniversary Convention to over 200 CUPE delegates at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

This week’s announcement was an exciting moment for the CUPE Manitoba school division sector who have been calling for a week of recognition for Manitoba’s education support staff who work tirelessly every day to help our children succeed.

 

“We are thrilled that the provincial government is recognizing our hard work,” says Barb Gribben, CUPE Manitoba school division sector chairperson. “Our education support workers are proud of their work, and are excited that the province has taken such leadership in celebrating our accomplishments with us.”

 

School Support Staff Week has been declared for the week of November 18 – 23, to take place annually.

 

“Our members work tirelessly to support Manitoba children,” states Kelly Moist, CUPE Manitoba president. “Recognizing their hard work means that the province takes them seriously, and understands the contributions these workers make to the community.”

 

CUPE Manitoba represents hundreds of education support staff in Manitoba, including education assistants, bus drivers, custodians, librarians, and clerical staff.