Halfway through the second week of strikes, the Saanich School Board and the union representing support workers are still no closer to reaching an agreement.
A member of CUPE 441, who has requested to remain anonymous, tells Victoria Buzz that the union is expected to vote down an offer from the employer at a meeting that will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6th.
See also: Saanich school board resumes negotiations with support staff in hopes of end to strike
Further, according to a statement from CUPE, bargaining talks broke down late Tuesday night after three days of the latest round of negotiations.
“I am disappointed that we did not reach an agreement that the bargaining committee felt they could recommend to members,” said CUPE 441 President Dean Coates.
“Our efforts to be creative and move toward the employer’s position were not reciprocated and the employer would not add any additional funding.”
CUPE 441 commenced strike action on Monday, October 28th, to demand comparable pay to their counterparts in Victoria and Sooke, who have received higher wages for decades.
After bargaining with the school district on six occasions and two sessions with a mediator in October, an overwhelming majority of CUPE 441 members voted to take job action, affecting 19 schools.
Picket lines remain active and parents are encouraged to check the school district website regularly for updates.
Elementary Schools
- Brentwood
- Cordova Bay
- Deep Cove
- Keating
- ḰELSET
- Lochside
- Prospect Lake
- Sidney
- South Island Distance Learning (SIDES)
Middle Schools
Secondary Schools
- Claremont
- Continuing Education (CE)
- Individual Learning Centre (ILC)
- Parkland
- South Island Distance Learning (SIDES)
- Stellys
