This week, MGEU members in Winnipeg School Division (WSD) – Local 460 voted overwhelmingly to give their Bargaining Committee a strike mandate.
“Whether you’re an Educational Assistant or a Clerk, the work you’re doing in Winnipeg schools is key to the success of all students,” said MGEU President Kyle Ross. “Members are facing classroom violence while being asked to do more with fewer resources. At the same time, wages aren’t keeping up with other divisions and the cost of living keeps rising. Our members need to catch up and keep up with other educational support workers in Winnipeg.”
The vote follows a recent member survey which showed growing dissatisfaction. While a strong majority of members (69%) said they are satisfied with the work itself, 59% have considered leaving their job in the past year. And when asked why people were considering leaving WSD, 77% pointed to better wages elsewhere.
Of those who said they were considering other work,
- 74% said they were thinking about moving to another school division
- 15% said early childhood education, and
- 23% said health care.
“With wages rising in health care and early childhood education, it is no surprise that members are considering other options,” Ross added. “We know that when workers can make more doing the same work in another workplace we risk losing them. Our members work hard and should get a fair deal that keeps them here supporting students in Winnipeg School Division.”