Page 2 - Cupe Strike News Today

More than 1,800 school support workers in Halifax went on strike on May 10. While schools remain open, EPAs and other workers are off the job, and pre-primary programs are paused.

The presidents of both CUPE Local 5047, which represents striking workers, and the Nova Scotia Teachers Union took to the picket line together for the first time on Friday.

Supporters say school is not the same as long as the 1,800 staff members are on strike including Educational Program Assistants (EPAs), support workers, and pre-primary teachers.

They filled the square outside City Hall to call for better wages for school support staff and to get all students back into the classroom.

Striking Halifax educational support workers sought out Premier Tim Houston Monday who was visiting a Lower Sackville cafe. They called on him to 'show respect' for their plight.

'I think it's a travesty that we're out here instead of celebrating with our students — and it's pretty bad when our students are coming out here to celebrate with us.'

More than 1,800 members are on strike after negotiations broke down between their union and the province. The union says the main sticking point is wages.

A Windsor boxer has fought his way to the top.

Parents say they support the school staff going on strike, acknowledging that their jobs are very complex and they deserve to be respected, valued and fairly compensated.

Thousands of Nova Scotian school support workers are readying for what could be a strike next week, after wage negotiations reached an impasse.