704-275 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4M6 Tel.: (204) 560-2138 [email protected] DELIVERED VIA EMAIL: [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected] December 10, 2020 The Honourable Kelvin Goertzen Minister of Education Room 168 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0V8 The Honourable Scott Fielding Minister of Finance Room 103 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0V8 The Honourable Heather Stefanson Minister of Families Room 357 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0V8 Dear Minister: RE: MANITOBA SCHOOL SECTOR SUPPORT STAFF On behalf of approximately 5,000 K-12 school support workers in Manitoba, we would like to take this opportunity to address concerns with respect to the Caregiver Wage Support Program (CWSP), specifically the exclusion of front line education support workers. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents education assistants, custodians, cleaners, school bus drivers, library technicians, intercultural and community liaisons, trades persons, office administrative staff plus more in 25 School Divisions across Manitoba. Many of our school support staff are exhausted and feeling overworked and undervalued – particularly when it comes to any form of wage program or recognition. These frontline staff are educating our children, aiding high needs students, transporting students to and from school, assisting in the everyday operation of schools, ensuring the buildings are clean and sanitized to ensure the safety of all staff and students. …/2 The Honourable K. Goertzen The Honourable S. Fielding The Honourable H. Stefanson December 10, 2020 Page 2 Notwithstanding the Safe Schools Fund and the Federal Government COVID related funding, allocated to address remote learning, Personal Protective Equipment, staffing needs, and emerging needs, the CWSP funding falls short in recognizing the current work performed by education support staff. These workers are dedicated to supporting students in the education system and operations of the School Divisions, and we believe deserve the same wage recognition as those announced as part of the CWSP. We look forward to your response. Please reply at your earliest convenience. Yours truly, ABE ARAYA PRESIDENT, CUPE MANITOBA /lb/cope342 .