Educational support workers in Winnipeg School Division give strike mandate to union
Wages not keeping up with support workers in other divisions, union says
Support workers in the Winnipeg School Division have given their union bargaining committee a strike mandate.
The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union represents about 1,800 educational assistants, clerks and other support workers, such as library techs, crossing guards, dispatchers, computer techs and food co-ordinators.
They've been without a contract since July 1, 2024.
Voting to support a strike took place from June 16-18 but there is no plan yet to hit the picket lines, a union spokesperson said, adding the bargaining committee will continue its work during the summer.
The vote follows a recent member survey which showed growing dissatisfaction, with many saying they have considered leaving their job in the past year for better wages elsewhere as the cost of living keeps rising, a news release from MGEU said.
Other school divisions pay support workers more, which puts the Winnipeg School Division at risk of losing staff, MGEU president Kyle Ross said in the release.