Education Assistants for River East Transcona School Division Join CUPE

Education Assistants for River East Transcona School Division Join CUPE

WINNIPEG, TREATY 1 – Education Assistants working for the River East Transcona School Division have voted to join CUPE following a successful card-signing campaign and a labour board issued vote. The final issuing on the certificate remains before the board. These 600 new members are joining CUPE’s strong and growing education sector.

CUPE now represents 7,000 members working in education across Manitoba. “We are thrilled to welcome these new members to CUPE,” said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba. “CUPE is a strong education union, and with the River East Transcona School Division Education Assistants joining our Union, we are stronger together.”

The members were previously part of an independent association. Independent associations are often formed in workplaces to prevent unions from organizing workers, which can limit the gains—such as wage improvements, better working conditions and full coverage for pensions and benefits—that Education Assistants typically achieve when they join a Manitoba union.

“Working together, we are going to start seeing progress on the issues these workers have prioritized,” said McKay. “We can support these new members to achieve better wages, fairer working conditions, stronger health and safety, and respect in our workplaces.”

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than 800,000 members. In Manitoba, CUPE represents approximately 40,000 members working in health care facilities, personal care homes, home care, school divisions, municipal services, social services, disability support services, childcare centres, public utilities, libraries, and family emergency services.

• 30 –
  For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
• Dale Edmunds, CUPE Media Contact 204-915-7429