HWDSB and COPE Reach Local Agreement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hamilton, Ontario – September 12, 2023: Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is pleased to jointly announce a local agreement with the Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union (COPE Local 527). COPE Local 527 represents over 1100 HWDSB Educational Assistants, Child and Youth Care Practitioners, Communication Disorders Assistants, Deaf and Blind Intervenors and Language Acquisition Support Staff.
HWDSB’s Board of Trustees approved the local agreement at a Board meeting on September 11, 2023. COPE Local 527 members ratified the agreement on September 11, 2023.
“COPE 527 members are highly valued for the critical role they play in supporting HWDSB students,” said Dawn Danko, Chair of the Board at HWDSB. “The agreement reached is reflective of the hard work and collaboration from all parties and represents a positive step forward for the entire Board.”
The ratified Collective Agreement covers the period from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2026.
“Firstly, I would like to thank our negotiating team for their hard work and dedication over the past school year. We could not have gotten to this point without their tireless efforts,” said COPE Local 527 President, Susan Lucek. “I would also like to thank the HWDSB for respectfully and collaboratively working with our team to reach an agreement. The new Collective Agreement is fair, reasonable, and an important first step toward improving the safety of staff and students alike.”
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Media Contact:
Allison Reynolds
Senior Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
[email protected]
Updated on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.