CALGARY – The union representing custodial workers at the Calgary Board of Education is crying foul over the use of maintenance dollars to upgrade computer systems.
Bob Anderson, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 40 said the board passed a budget on Tuesday that continues to neglect the maintenance of buildings and property.
“With $800 million in deferred maintenance, how can the board justify spending $1.3 million to upgrade computer software?” asked Anderson. “Instead of keeping schools and school yards clean and in working order, they have budgeted over $1 million for disk encryption.”
Anderson said that the computer upgrades might be valid, but not at the expense of the safety and health of students.
“Every dollar taken from maintenance is a dollar not spent keeping our schools clean, keeping needles and condoms off school yards, and keeping buildings and equipment in proper working order.”
Contact: Bob Anderson
President, CUPE 40
403.650.0795
LA/gb
COPE #491