FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October
17, 2005
Simcoe school
support workers to rally for fairness
SIMCOE COUNTY – Support
workers at the Simcoe County District School Board will hold
information rallies at eight area schools tomorrow. The
rallies are meant to bring public awareness to their
campaign for fairness for school support workers in the
county.
DATE: Tuesday,
October 18
TIME: 3:30 p.m.
PLACE: Eight
schools across Simcoe County (Locations attached)
Members of OPSEU Local 330
include educational assistants, school secretaries and
clerical staff, board staff, learning and career centre
clerical staff and IT staff. They want the public to be
aware that support workers at the schools have a higher
workload, yet receive less wages and professional
development than their peers at other school boards.
“There should not be double
standards for school support workers,” said Dave McCarl,
president of Local 330 and an educational assistant at
Collingwood Collegiate. “Workers at the Catholic Board here
in Simcoe County, for example, have superior wages and four
times the number of professional development days. We simply
cannot have that kind of disparity, especially in schools
right beside each other.”
OPSEU President Leah
Casselman said that the Simcoe County District School Board
needs to recognize that these workers are integral to the
education system.
“Schools don’t operate
without support workers,” Casselman said. “You retain
quality staff with competitive wages and working conditions.
Simcoe County is one of the fastest-growing areas in Canada.
There should be no excuse not to level the playing field.”
The collective agreement between the
support workers and the Board expired Dec. 31, 2004.
-30-
For further information:
Silvanna Petersen, 705-627 5346; Dave McCarl
705-730-3799 Information rally locations – Tuesday,Oct. 18
Allendale Heights PS 124
Bayview Dr. Barrie ON Spokesperson: Marilyn Harris
Portage View PS 124
Letitia Street Barrie ON Spokesperson: Joanne Kuzmich
Huronia Centennial ES 28
Simcoe Street Elmvale ON Spokesperson: Sandra Barker
Harriett Todd PS 11
George Street Orillia ON Spokesperson: Marlene Leigh
Orchard Park PS 24
Calverley Orillia ON Spokesperson: Marie Seaborn
Parkview PS 340 Sixth
Street Midland ON Spokesperson: Tom Cobb
Angus Morrison PS 91
Simcoe Street Angus ON Spokesperson: TC Hill
Mountain View ES 300
Spruce Street Collingwood ON Spokesperson: David Young
