The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 1369 and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have ratified a new three-year collective agreement effective September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2006. The new agreement includes improvements in the areas of uniforms, boots and trade certificate allowances while the monetary portion of the contract will see employees’ salaries increase by 2 percent effective September 1, 2003, an additional 1 percent in January, 2004 and 1 percent in June, 2004. The same increases are scheduled for 2005 and 2006.

Ray Vincent, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic School Board is pleased with the fact that the contract has been ratified by the membership stating that, “I would like to thank both negotiation committees for having arrived at this three year agreement. These negotiations were carried out in the spirit of goodwill and compromise by both parties. The Board has provided what is good and fair to our employees while remaining within the confines of what our budget can afford. CUPE Local 1369 staff are, and will continue to be a key component in the board’s plan to provide quality Catholic education to our children.”

David Chezzi, President CUPE Local 1369 is also pleased with the ratification vote stating that, “with all of the instability, staffing cut backs and reductions in funding levels by the Provincial government handed down to boards in recent years, members can now breathe a sigh of relief. By signing this deal, members now have the opportunity to feel a sense of security in their jobs for the next three years,” continued Chezzi.