Second public school union votes for strike mandate

If support workers at Regina public schools go on strike, they might have some company on the picket lines: On Tuesday, CUPE Local 650, which represents 175 maintenance and tradespeople in the Regina Public School Division, announced its members voted 93 per cent for a strike mandate on July 17.

In early July, CUPE Local 3766, which represents education support workers at the public school division, also voted in favour of a strike mandate.

A statement from union president Glenn Douglas said they have not been pleased with how negotiations have went.

“Our members work tirelessly to make sure that public schools in Regina are a safe place for teachers, staff, students and parents,” Douglas said.

“Our schools work because we do, and instead of recognizing that, (the Regina public school division is) attacking our health and dental benefits, our severance/retirement gratuity, and trying to limit our ability to present grievances to the Board of Trustees.”

The union also said its members have not had raises in almost four years, with the latest offer from the division being a two-year pay freeze.