Hope In Durham Strike, As Two Sides Agree To Start Talking Again
Posted March 29, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There’s a glimmer of hope in the week-old Durham school support workers strike, as both sides have reportedly agreed to get back to the bargaining table.
Union negotiators and members of Durham School Board management have agreed to start talks again on Friday, which would be the first of four scheduled mediation days after talks broke off more than a week ago.
All 132 schools in the board have been running without the assistance of caretakers, secretaries, maintenance staff and educational assistants since the walkout began last Wednesday. There’s no word on whether workers might return to their jobs when negotiations resume.
The board had said in the past it wants to go to arbitration but CUPE Local 218 has steadfastly refused that option.
Wages and workload are among the major issues – workers contend there’s simply too much to do and they’re having to work overtime, unpaid, to get it all done. As far as wages, the union is looking for a 9.2 per cent increase, while the board is apparently willing to shell out no more than 8.2 per cent.
Local union president Don Bryans appeared optimistic both sides were willing to talk again.
There are concerns the schools will have to close at some point for sanitary reasons if workers stay off the job and trash continues to pile up.
