(File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

New Contract

NESD happy long bargaining process with education support workers is officially over

Feb 23, 2024 | 5:00 PM

It probably feels like a weight has been lifted off the chest of the North East School Division (NESD).

That’s because they’ve officially ratified a deal with CUPE 4875, the union for the division’s education support workers.

This new contract will include a 3 per cent, 3.5 per cent, and another 3.5 per cent increase over each of the next three years.

“We’re very happy we came to the conclusion that we did,” said Stacy Lair, the Director of Education for NESD.

The two sides had been bargaining since October 2022. During that time, a bargaining impasse was hit with CUPE members even approving a strike mandate. In the end, no job action was taken.

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“I’m grateful that we were able to keep those communications open and move things forward,” said Lair.

The deal also provides a bit of stress release for the division as they no longer have to worry about their education support workers undertaking job action at the same time as teachers.

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) has been organizing different initiatives in an attempt to get the provincial government to consider issues like class size and complexity in contract talks. This includes one-day strikes and the stopping of certain activities.

“To get one done is something good,” explained Lair.

She added she hopes the STF and the province can come to an agreement as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the latest job action by the STF will happen on Monday.

Teachers won’t be overseeing any extracurricular activities for the day.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbertnow