The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1022 announced Wednesday the parties will be moving to conciliation.

Since late Nov. 2019 to date, five days of local bargaining has occurred.

“We value CUPE employees who support and engage with students every day. Our focus through these negotiations has been all students first and that focus will continue,” Sean Monteith, Director of Education expressed. “We believe in collective bargaining and going to conciliation is a next step in the process. We will continue to have discussions in good faith with the intention on coming to a settlement that is agreeable to both parties and supports student achievement.”

CUPE education workers are the guts and grit of the education system. In schools and board offices they work as education assistants, custodians and caretakers, early childhood educators, school secretaries, administrative assistants, school library workers, maintenance workers, tradespeople, instructors, IT technicians, field technology analysts, instructional assistants, nutrition service workers, payroll clerks, developmental support workers, health assistants, school safety monitors, social workers, psychologists, child and youth workers, educational intervenors, and in many more jobs.

As the normal process of collective bargaining goes, meeting dates will be set once the two sides agree on a conciliator with nothing further being released at this time.

For more information please contact: Kerry Donnell, Communications Manager at 613.966.1170 or 1.800.267.4350, extension 62354 or by email kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca.