Seine River School Division - Trades - Local 143 - Bargaining Brief

Updated: May 24, 2023
Approx. Number of Members: 90
Current Contract Expires: June 30, 2021
MGEU Staff Negotiator: David Singleton
Elected Bargaining Committee Members: Laurie Saniuk, Elsie Brennan, Dwayne Ammeter.

LATEST BARGAINING NEWS

The Seine River School Division (EAs) - Local 145 ratified a new collective agreement on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

The new agreement comes into place on date of signing and includes retroactive pay to July 2021.

Please stay tuned for when Local 143 bargaining is scheduled to begin.   

Overview of Bargaining So Far

Members of Seine River School Division, Custodial and Maintenance Employees - Local 143 had an opportunity to put forward their ideas and proposals for improving their collective agreement at a meeting in February, 2022.

The Bargaining Committee then worked to pull together these proposals into a package to present to the employer and was preparing to begin negotiations in September, 2022. However, Local representatives received notice from the employer that they were not prepared to begin negotiations until after the municipal elections were complete in October, as members of their Bargaining Committee could change due to the election.

The Seine River School Division EA’s - Local 145 Bargaining Committee exchanged proposals with the employer on January 5 and 6, 2023. The two sides also held productive discussions on non-monetary proposals such as contract language and working conditions.

The Bargaining Committee and employer met again on Monday, January 16 and Monday, February 13, when they began monetary discussions, including wages. 

After several bargaining sessions to discuss monetary items, the employer provided the Seine River School Division (EAs) - Local 145 Bargaining Committee with an offer which the Committee believed is totally insufficient. They presented the employer with a counter offer but all they received was more delays.
 
The Bargaining Committee then scheduled a strike vote. A vote to strike would give them the authority – or mandate – to take strike action, if necessary. It also sends a powerful message to the employer. It shows the employer that members are ready and willing to take job action, if the employer remains unwilling to provide a fair offer.

On April 4, 2023 members of Seine River School Division (EAs) - Local 145 delivered a strong mandate to their Bargaining Committee.

In response to this overwhelming mandate, the employer's representatives returned to the bargaining table on April 12 to provide a revised offer -- which included some minor improvements but did not go far enough to allow Local 145 members to catch up and keep up with the wages of other educational assistants in the province.

Strike preparation began, with picket lines set up to begin Monday, April 17 at 8 am.

The Seine River School Division (EAs) - Local 145 Bargaining Committee reached a tentative agreement late in the evening on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Members had an opportunity to vote on the agreement on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Club Regent Canad Inns (1415 Regent Ave. W).

The Committee recommended acceptance.

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