Update for Families

Update for Families

Families,

I am writing with an update to my email on April 19 about a tentative agreement reached with the union that represents some of Halifax Regional Centre for Education’s (HRCE) school support workers.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 5047, held a ratification vote this past weekend. Members of CUPE Local 5047 did not accept the tentative agreement.

What does this mean?

Tomorrow, CUPE and HRCE will return to the bargaining table with a conciliator. While we remain hopeful for a resolution on outstanding items, it’s important to remember that CUPE remains in a legal strike position. There is a possibility that CUPE members may take job action as early as this week.

In the event of a labour disruption, the following services will continue:

  • All schools will remain open to in-person learning.
  • Student transportation will operate as usual. Special needs transportation will operate as usual for students who can reasonably and safely attend school without EPA support for the duration of a strike.
  • The EXCEL program will continue to operate.


In the event of a CUPE strike, the following services will be disrupted:

  • Educational Program Assistants (EPAs) will not be at work. Principals have resumed planning for students who require the support of EPAs and how they will continue to access educational services reasonably and safely.
     
  • Pre-Primary Programs will be paused for the duration of a strike, as Early Childhood Educators (Leads and Supports) will not be at work. Pre-Primary children will not attend school.
  • Services from the following employees will be paused for the duration of a strike: Library Support Specialists, SchoolsPlus Community Outreach Workers, Child and Youth Care Practitioners, Mi’kmaw/Indigenous Student Support Workers, African Nova Scotian Student Support Workers, and Assistive Technology Support Workers.

We will provide an update as soon as we have new information to share.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your school principal.

All the Best,

Steve Gallagher
Regional Executive Director
Halifax Regional Centre for Education