Back to School for CUPE Members
Prince George, B.C. – Teachers aren’t the only staff in the Prince George School District getting ready for the start of school September 8.
Hundreds of CUPE workers are back at work and busily preparing for the upcoming school year this week too.
“Well, we actually started preparing for the new school year, the custodians, back in June,” says local 3742 president Karen Wong. “And they worked through the month of July getting the schools spick and span, stripping floors and waxing them.”
And after a short break in August they’re back at it again this week.
“They’re clearning the schools, clearning the rooms, we also have a clerical staff, which includes secretaries, starting today (Monday) and again next week.”
She says there’s plenty for them to do as well.
“In the clerical field we’re looking at early and late registrations depending on the scenario,” says Wong. “So we have parents who are dealing with transfers of students; we have clericals who are getting class lists and teachers assignments prepared.”
Wong says it’s a huge task for the roughly 125 custodians and 140 clericals considering the size of the district.
“It’s not just a matter of schools, but a matter of buildings,” she says. “We have 31 elementary schools, eight secondary schools and an alternate school. We have the board office as well.”
Wong says an even larger portion of CUPE’s roughly 900 members will be back on the job over the next couple of weeks.
“The library clerks won’t be in until next week and the EA’s (educational assistants and youth care workers) will return to work on September 8 when the doors open for everyone.”
Comments
They forgot to mention the new school year starts off with a pro D day…. hard at it alright.
I’m missing something! I don’t see any relevance to this story!
31 Elementary, 8 Secondary, 1 Alternate., plus the Board Office. Is that it for 900 Cupe Members???
And in other news today, a whole lot of other people went to work as well.
CUPE Local 3742 president Karen Wong says:
“it’s a huge task for the roughly 125 custodians and 140 clericals considering the size of the district.”
A huge tast! Oh my goodness! They deserve another raise!
PG 101 just how and when are the teachers supposed to have a meeting then? I suppose your work does not have meeting? Your comment just shows your ignorance on the subject. Please enlighten us about Pro day.
Palopu what are your saying?
hart Guy and your comment means what.
Here is a general interest posting about a the beginning of school and the negative comments are unbelievable.
I guess you are all experts and should run for school board.
Palopu’s question is a very legitimate one! How about being kind enough to answer it for those of us who like to know more about the subject?
900 seems like a large number.
I thought it was more like 300 CUPE workers.
Take 900 devide by the number of facilties. Now look at the geographical size of the district and number of students. Now think of maintenance and administrative issues. Now from the critics just what do you propose?
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 @ 11:18 AM by seamutt with a score of -2
Take 900 devide by the number of facilties. Now look at the geographical size of the district and number of students. Now think of maintenance and administrative issues. Now from the critics just what do you propose?
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900/41 = 21.96. Not sure what geography has to do with it? There are 14,239 students currently enrolled. 14239/900 = 15.8
Geography equals travel time which eats up work time. Oh don’t forget our climate.
PG 101 abut pro D day, the teachers don’t belong to CUPE.
Sure a number of people jealous of CUPE jobs. If its so easy apply or better yet get on the school board and whip all those lazy butts into shape and fire half of them.
In addition to the janitors, maintenance staff, and clerical staff, I believe that the CUPE membership includes just about everyone who is not a full-fledged teacher or administrator, including: education assistants, aboriginal education workers, home/school liaisons and cooks.
Im guessing the comments against the CUPE members are coming from people who actually have full time jobs!! I do believe CUPE in the school district are all working part time jobs. Im thinking 900 members is equal to 300 full time jobs in the non-cupe world. My bff has worked for 21 years in the schools and only gets 20 hours a week. No back off on the 900 members, you dont have all the facts.
Once again all the rightwing cult members spouting off on things they have very little knowledge about.
Perhaps those with the **knowledge** could elucidate for the rest of us.
When you consider travel time for example you have someone driving to McBride working for a few hours and driving back. Or they might stay overnight (expenses) and drive back the next day. More time driving to and fro than working.
Could we not contract this work out to someone in McBride????
Are not support staff( clerical etc), teachers AIDS, bus drivers etc not included in that? Or perhaps others I forgot? And it’s over the next couple of weeks. Personally can’t wait for the school year to start..:)
Oh dear I’ll try again. Pick up a truck, drive to Malaspina, then out to the Buckhorn then maybe to Kelly Road then back to the start line. Travel time in a working day?
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