Custodians reach new deal

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3987 representing custodial staff reached a tentative agreement on Friday October 24 following a recent round of positive negotiations.

Both parties will be recommending ratification of the tentative agreement to their respective groups. Details of the agreement will not be available until it is ratified.

"We truly value the work that our custodial staff performs each day in our schools and other facilities," said Michael O'Keefe, director of of the board. "This positive outcome reflects the mutual respect that everyone involved in the negotiations have for each other. Reaching this tentative agreement is good for the Board and for our custodians. We wanted to ensure that we continue to strengthen and build on the working relationship we have with our custodians and I believe this recent round of negotiations helps us to do that. We believe our communities will be pleased to know that their schools will continue to be well cared for by our conscientious custodial staff."

National Representative for CUPE Jim Keenan said, "We are very happy to have concluded a renewal collective agreement which will provide stability for our members for the next four years."

Others agree.

"We are pleased with this outcome," said John Grisé, chair of the Board of Trustees. "It highlights the importance we place on our custodians and on having clean and safe school environments for our students' faith-filled learning. It also speaks to the significance we place on maintaining strong working relationships with employees of the board. We will be reviewing the details of this tentative agreement at our next board meeting."

The board has 130 custodians who provide service to our 52 Catholic schools and three facilities.