Dear Members of Local 4682

On March 23^rd 2024 the executive along with Carl Crouse, National Rep, held two meetings to present the proposals to members.

Even though the turnout was not that great, we appreciate and thank those members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend, discuss and vote on the package.

The executive worked extremely hard over a 4 day period on a package that we feel will make improvements to current language and add new language that covers all job classifications.

We thank all those members who sent ideas, suggestions and recommendations for the proposals. We looked over all of them and considered them all.

To keep with the timeline created by CUPE/NSSBCU, the proposal package had to be condensed. The reason behind that is to keep time at the local table as short as possible. There will be language presented at a provincial level in hopes to continue the work of NSSBCU in getting all locals having the same and best language possible. Once that package is completed and available, we will present that to the members.

In Solidarity,
Jennifer Cox       Nancy Grant       Terry Saulnier    Jannette Saunders        Floyd Seymour
Present                 VP Queens         VP Lburg              Recording Secretary     Secretary Treasurer

Please see attached Harmonization Update

update_NSSBCU_02 29 2024

What a great way to kick off the holiday season by having members in local parades.
Thank you to all the members involved in getting the buses decked out, walking the parade routes to spread Holiday Cheer (and treats to the kids!) and the drivers of the buses.

Check out all the fun members had in the Bridgewater and Liverpool Holiday Parades.

UPDATE: NSSBCU Wage Harmonization

Since the ratification of collective agreements in May and June, we have begun the process of harmonizing wages across the province. The goal is to raise the hourly rate for education support staff up to the highest rate within each classification, where there is a reasonable comparator.

The joint union-employer committee has met six times since mid-June to review classifications of all support staff in the K-12 sector in Nova Scotia.

At our last meeting, on October 31, we discussed one classification from the Student Support group and the Student Supervision classifications.

To date, we have discussed 7 of the classification groupings:

• Secretarial (except for the Account Clerk)
• Technology
• Student Support (except for CYCP & Parent Navigator)
• Property Services
• Transportation
• Library Services
• Student Supervision

We have not yet reviewed the cafeteria classifications.

We have agreement in principle on 8 different classifications in the Secretarial, Student Support and Library Services groups.

We may have agreement on another 6 classifications in the Student Supervision, Property Services and Technology groups, but there are some bigger issues that we will need to deal with before we can finalize these.

We have not been able to come to agreement on the bare rate— the rate that we use as the starting point for the comparison.(The datefor the bare rate is December1, 2022.)This will need to be decided through arbitration as it has an effect on the process.

We have agreed on the arbitrator who will hear the issue around the bare rate, and we will be working to set dates as soon as possible. As well, we hope to get confirmation of additional joint meeting dates to review the outstanding classifications shortly. We have provided availability to the employers for the 2^nd and 3^rd week of November to do this.

The committee continues to work very hard to get this important work completed. Thanks to all of the members for their continued support and patience.

:sm/cope 491

NSSBCU Update on Wage Harmonization

The collective agreements that were ratified in May and June for the Education sector included
a Memorandum of Agreement to harmonize wages across the province.
The goal is to bring the hourly wage rate for education support staff in each area of the province
up to the highest rate within each classification, as long as there is a reasonable comparator.
We began this process on June 16th, meeting with the employers as well as representatives
from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

THE PROCESS
The classifications under review include all support staff in the K-12 sector in Nova Scotia. Both
union and non-unionized wage rates can be used in the comparison.
The wages being reviewed are the base hourly rates, with any benefits removed that are built
into the rate (e.g., an additional percentage in lieu of sick time). We are using the rate that was
in effect on December 1, 2022.
This is known as the “bare” rate.
To begin the comparison, we needed to collect all relevant information, including job
descriptions, wage rates and feedback from members on the work they do.
We also needed to gather information from the employers on non-union classifications and from
other unions that represent similar classifications.
Armed with this information, the union and employer committees started to compare our job
descriptions with other job descriptions where the responsibilities and duties are the “same or
substantially similar” to one another.
Some positions are more technical and complex in nature and present a challenge in finding
comparators. It can also be challenging to compare union jobs to non-union positions where the
work is organized differently.

THE CLASSIFICATIONS
We are using the eight groupings that emerged from the 2008 CUPE and employer
classification standardization process as a way to organize our analysis.

The eight groups or sub categories are:
o Property Services (Custodian, Janitor, Building Specialist etc.)
o Secretarial
o Student Support (ECE, EPA, Student Support Worker etc.)
o Cafeteria
o Technology
o Student Supervision (Lunch, Bus, Ground Monitor etc.)
o Transportation
o Library Support

THE COMMITTEE
The Joint Union/Employer Committee is comprised of one representative – the president or
designate – from each of the eight Education sector locals, as well as a representative from the
corresponding Centre of Education or CSAP.

PROGRESS TO DATE
We have met as a full committee five times so far, in addition to smaller meetings to review and
analyse information. It has been challenging to say the least. We are about half way through the
classifications, and the deadline to complete the process is October 31, 2023.
The problem we face is that the employer will not provide us with information on wages and job
descriptions for non-union positions in a timely manner, before the meetings.
We have been able to get wage rates and job descriptions from the other unions, but without the
information for the non-union positions, we have not been able to do full comparison prior to the
meetings. Thus, the meetings have been taken up with analysis that could have been done prior
to the meeting. This has been a frustrating experience, but we are persistent and determined
that the process will be done accurately and thoroughly.
We have discussed three of the eight groups so far: Secretarial, Student Support and Library
Services.
Of these three, we have agreement in principle on adjustments for two of the secretarial
classifications, five of the student support positions and two of the library services positions.
We are currently reviewing the Information Technology and Property Services classifications.
The committee is scheduled to meet one more day in October and there is an additional
tentative date as well. We will continue to work as quickly as possible in the hopes that we can
complete the review by the October 31st deadline.

If there are outstanding classifications yet to be reviewed by the deadline or any classifications
in dispute, there is a dispute resolution mechanism that we will employ, involving a third party, in
order to complete the process.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
As we sign off on the classifications adjustments, wage increases are to go into effect the day of
the signing.
However, implementation of the wage adjustment will happen in two stages, as per the
Memorandum.
Fifty percent of the wage adjustment will be applied immediately, retroactive to the ratification
date of the Local agreement.
The other half of the increase will go into effect March 31, 2024, the last day of the current
agreement.
As more information is available, further updates will be provided.

In Solidarity,
Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions
Classification Committee

There was an amazing turn out at the AGM held at Hebbville School Oct 17th 2023.

Elections were held for the following:

2 Yr Term President – Jennifer Cox
2 Yr Term Secretary Treasurer – Floyd Seymour
1 Yr Term VP Lunenburg Co. – Terry Saulnier
Trustee – Tina Brown

Nancy Grant remains VP Queens Co with 1 yr left in her term
Jannette Saunders remains Recording Secretary with 1 yr left in her term

Thank you to everyone who attended and put their names forward for positions. It is great to see so many members interested in being active within our Local.

In Solidarity
Your Executive

Today, you will receive an email (if you are on the email list) that will invite you to take part in a survey.

This survey will provide members the chance to express what they personally would like to see go to the provincial bargaining table. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. The survey will be available for 2 weeks.

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see at the local bargaining table, please send an email to any of your local executives.

Not on the email list? Want to be added? Please email local4682@gmail.com and our amazing Secretary, Jannette Saunders, will add you to the list. This is a great way to stay up to date on when meetings are and other important information regarding CUPE Local 4682

In Solidarity

Your executive

Thursday, August 10th 2023, your Bargaining Committee will be meeting with management to FINALLY sign our new contract!!

Once the contract is signed, members will receive the pay increases listed in the contract. As for retro pay, at this time we do not have a date when retro will be issued however, we will be asking for that information on Thursday.

Once we know, you will know.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

Dwayne Sarty, Nancy Grant, Jennifer Cox, Jannette Saunders and Terry Saulnier