School support staff in Prince Edward Island have successfully negotiated a new deal with the provincial education system to address wage concerns due to inflation over the past two years. The agreement, reached by CUPE Local 3260, includes an 18 to 20 percent wage increase over three years, along with retroactive pay.
Colleen Jackson, the president of CUPE Local 3260, expressed satisfaction with the deal but noted that there is more work to be done beyond this agreement. She emphasized the importance of the wage increase for their members but stressed that it is just a step forward, not the final solution.
Support staff in the education system play crucial roles such as youth and mental health workers, workplace assistants, and more, now covered under a single contract. Jackson highlighted the significance of these roles in supporting students and teachers, stating that without them, students would not be able to attend school.
The contract now also includes primary support workers focusing on social and emotional development for kindergarten to Grade 2 students. Jackson mentioned that the Public Schools Branch currently employs two of these workers.
During negotiations, the union sought to add an extra working hour per day, but this was not included in the final agreement. Jackson explained that the decision was made to prioritize providing financial relief to members in need, with plans to address the issue of working hours in future negotiations.
Jackson emphasized the need for additional time to collaborate with teachers, attend meetings, communicate with families, and prepare for students, highlighting the potential benefits of increased collaboration in reducing school violence. The new contract is scheduled to take effect at the start of the upcoming school year in September, with retroactive pay for 2024 and 2025 to be paid out in October as a lump sum.
