All schools are reopening in Manitoba
The education workers' strike has come to an end.
In Manitoba, educational assistants are finally returning to work after a nearly month-long strike. 83.1% of union members voted in favor of signing a new agreement with the provincial government.
The Christian Labor Association of Canada (CLAC) defended the rights of 200 workers. Dueck Thiessen, the union's representative in Winnipeg, said it's too early to celebrate a victory. The new contract runs until 2026, at which point more decisive action may be needed:
"These wage adjustments, while significant, still need work in our next round of bargaining in three years, to get to a wage that fully compensates these folks for the valuable work they do <...> The last provincial government hamstrung school divisions by limiting their taxing powers, without backfilling with adequate funding. And the current government has been silent as our members went on strike."
In a press release issued Thursday, Nov. 23, the union said the negotiated agreement calls for an immediate 6.3% wage increase. Premiums in education will increase a total of 42% over the life of the agreement, and specifically 21% immediately. The press release also notes that workers will not lose pay for strike days and will receive significant improvements in sick leave coverage.
The school divisions said in its response press release that it looks forward to getting employees back to work and resuming normal school operations.
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