{"id":35870,"date":"2023-05-12T16:16:47","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=35870"},"modified":"2023-05-12T16:16:47","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:16:47","slug":"lhs-students-walkout-striking-cupe-support-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=35870","title":{"rendered":"LHS students walkout in support of striking CUPE support workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;105&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;126&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FALL RIVER:<\/strong> Droves of Lockview High students totalling approximately 200 walked out of class mid-morning Friday to show their support with striking CUPE Local 5047 workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The walkout was organized by student Jake Foster to show they supported EPAs and other school support workers who are on strike as they look for a fair deal and fair wage from the provincial government. His friends mom is an EPA at Rocky Lake school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The students were met halfway by some of the support workers and continued walking up Lockview Road on the sidewalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students and the support workers that met them then walked along the sidewalk past Ash Lee Jefferson School to where the bulk of the other striking workers were on the picket line along Fall River Road. The picket line stretched from Jamieson Park up past Georges P. Vanier Junior High in Fall River to the parking lot of St,. Rose of Lima church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As students arrived, some grabbed signs and crossed the crosswalk at Lockview and Fall River Road and headed down to Hwy 2\/Fall River Road lights hoping motorists would see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7723-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35886\" width=\"909\" height=\"606\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picket line captain Tracey White walks with Jake Foster the student walkout organizer from LHS on the crosswalk at Fall River Road. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7624-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35878\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students walk along the sidewalk by GPV holding a CIPE sign. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;93&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;31&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As students from LHS walked up and down the picket line, as well as support workers, there were plenty of honks from construction dump trucks, general public, HRM Firefighters in a fire truck, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student Arika Greenwood felt it was important for her and others to show the striking support workers that they mean a lot to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think they don\u2019t get paid nearly enough especially with the kind of stuff they deal with,\u201d said Greenwood as she and friend Victoria Fitzmorris held a CUPE sign on pink Bristol board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fv70IZyWIAcssxK-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35872\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students Arika Greenwood as she and friend Victoria Fitzmorris hold a CUPE sign on the picket line. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Walkout in support of Cupe5047 video 2\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mJDcglBXt4E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;71&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fitzmorris thought the turnout may open some peoples eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think its a lot more then people were expecting it to be,\u2019 she said. \u2018Its awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor it being close to lunch time when most kids should be down at Tim\u2019s and their not, I like that,\u201d added Greenwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Greenwood is hopeful walkouts like the one at Lockview plus others at HRCE high schools will put pressure on the government to come meet with a fair deal for the support workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hope they listen and see that its not just the support workers they\u2019re impacting, it\u2019s the students and our ability to go to school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The students on the picket line were marked absence from the classes they missed to participate in the walkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7639-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35880\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students along the picket line in Fall River. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7573-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35874\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Support workers walk with LHS students on the sidewalk near the church on Lockview Road. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7643-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35881\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CUPE Local 5047 support workers walk in front of GPV on Friday. 9Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;31&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;148&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foster said he knows many of the support workers at LHS who are on the picket line, and he wanted to do his part to support them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe work they do is really hard,\u201d said Foster. \u201cIt\u2019s unfair some of the wages that they\u2019re getting so I think they should be getting better wages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7669-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35883\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A support worker shows her displeasure with Premier Tim Houston. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Foster said he was out on the picket line with the workers on Thursday as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was impressed with how many students participated in the walkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is awesome,\u201d he said. \u2018This is exactly how I wanted it to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt shows all the support workers what they mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foster is hopeful the government will return to the negotiating table with CUPE Local 5047.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hope it makes the government notice that there\u2019s support for these workers and they can give them what they need, which is a fair wage,\u201d said Foster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate group=&#8221;6&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;92&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7590-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35875\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students walk towards the picket line. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7602-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35876\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Young students walk along Fall River Rd in support of the striking workers. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7712-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35885\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">CUPE 5047 support workers walk across the crosswalk by GPV (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tracey White, Picket captain for the Lockview location, said it was wonderful to see the support from the students at Lockview High.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe do so much for not just our own students in the Learning Centre, but we also help out other students and make a safe environment,\u201d she said. \u201cIts nice to see that we have tremendous support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome of these students parents are affected with their siblings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She said the workers, some who make under $30,000 a year now, would love to be able to have a decent wage so they can continue to do what they love doing.So the workers would like to get a living wage that is around what that is in N.S., approximately $46,000 a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;127&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate group=&#8221;7&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>White thinks the government is getting a clear message of what support workers mean to schools in HRCE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hope they see that we are a crucial part of the education system sector and give us a living wage,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Students from LHS walk Cupe5047 picket line - video 4\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WGkg-OqVwAQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/345892705_614435673901267_5893864364150470433_n-e1683918531446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35888\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At Dutch Settlement Elementary School, support workers have been walking the picket line there as well since Wednesday morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have received many honks of horns and waves from passerbys in support of them being on strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no word on when\u2014and if\u2014the two sides will be returning to the bargaining table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The support workers will be manning the picket line during weekdays as long as the strike continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7663-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35882\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many students held signs as they walked the picket line along Fall River Road. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_7735-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35887\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There was facepainting so students could get some pink on them in support of the striking workers. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;194&#8243;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;199&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[adrotate banner=&#8221;105&#8243;] [adrotate banner=&#8221;126&#8243;] FALL RIVER: Droves of Lockview High students totalling approximately 200 walked out of class mid-morning Friday to show their support with striking CUPE Local 5047 workers. The walkout was organized by student Jake Foster to show they supported EPAs and other school support workers who are on strike as they look [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,957],"tags":[10,4954,2,266,5,2338,4955],"class_list":["post-35870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","tag-beaver-bank","tag-cupe-5047","tag-fall-river","tag-hrce","tag-lockview-high","tag-strike","tag-support-workers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}