Louis Riel School Division support staff get raises

Louis Riel School Division support staff have settled a new contract that will increase their wages by about 13 per cent by 2028.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees issued a news release Friday announcing two of its locals — 3473 and 4642 — had ratified new five-year agreements.

CUPE touted annual wage increases, as well as flat-rate increases ranging from $1.75 to $6 per hour over the life of the agreements, as “key wins.”

The annual adjustments are 2.5 per cent, followed by 2.75 per cent for three years and 2.25 per cent in the final year.

The release said employees also secured improvements to paid sick leave provisions, bereavement leave and topups during maternity leave.

“Union members achieved a major win by rejecting all employer concession demands, protecting vacation, union leave, and strike notice provisions in both agreements,” it said.

Educational assistants, custodians, bus drivers and their colleagues held a rally outside the St. Mary’s Road school board office in March to protest their stagnant wages.

EAs were previously paid between $24.12 to $26.79 per hour. The last time they got a raise was in 2022.