GUELPH – The union representing custodians, maintenance staff and permanent English as a second language (ESL) employees has ratified a collective agreement with the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB).
The collective agreement between the board and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 256 was reached on Jan. 17 for the caretaking and maintenance bargaining unit and on Feb. 6 for the ESL bargaining unit.
The board ratified the agreements on Feb. 25 with CUPE members ratifying their agreements earlier in the month.
“The negotiations went well,” said William Foster, president of CUPE local 256. “We worked well with the board and the board worked well with us.
“All in all, negotiations went smoothly.”
Bargaining for the caretaking and maintenance agreement took four days and the ESL agreement took three days.
“We are pleased that the board and CUPE’s work together has resulted in the swift negotiation of these agreements,” said UGDSB chair Martha MacNeil.
“We continue to value our strong relationships with our union partners and appreciate their commitment to the Upper Grand educational community.”
The new agreements, which cover Sept. 1, 2019 to Aug. 31, 2022, include:
– a one per cent increase to salary and benefits in each year of the agreement, retroactive to Sept. 1; and
– commitments to Community Use of Schools funding, professional development and “Investment in System Priorities” funding, which will result in the addition of six permanent custodial positions.
CUPE began contact negotiations in the fall, started work-to-rule job action on Sept. 23 and had planned an Oct. 7 strike.
However, an Oct. 6 tentative agreement averted the strike action.
