CUPE withdraws from NL Education Accord

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Canadian Union of Public Employees Newfoundland & Labrador (CUPE NL) has made a final submission to the provincial government’s Education Accord Advisory Team and will no longer participate in the ongoing Education Accord process.

“We have made recommendations, and we have shared our concerns. But the recent interim report suggests that we are heading towards a purposeful and organized dismantling of our public education system,” said CUPE NL President Sherry Hillier.

In June 2024, CUPE NL made submissions to the NL Education Accord’s consultation process, recommending that the upcoming Accord incorporate fair compensation for education workers, plans to address violence in schools, improved funding for schools in rural areas, and consistent, meaningful engagement with unions.

CUPE NL is concerned that instead, the Education Accord will result in more public dollars going to private companies, leading to a decline in the quality of our public education system, and further deterioration of working conditions for members in public schools, postsecondary institutions, and childcare facilities.

“The outcomes of the Health Accord were, and remain, devastating to the public health care system,” continued Hillier. “The responsibility for our degraded public health care service has fallen to overworked and understaffed health care workers, while the Furey government continues to give away our public dollars so private contractors can pay more for the same work. The Education Accord process report has a lot of the same red flags as the Health Accord, and education workers are rightfully worried that they will suffer just as our province's health care workers are now.”

CUPE stands in solidarity with the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) Faculty Association who have recently announced their intention to cease participation in, and withdraw support of, the Accord.

:so/cope491
:bw/cope-491