The Saanich branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Local 441) has served a 72-hour strike notice to School District 63.
The local says the notice was served after two unsuccessful mediation sessions this month. Members of the local will start job action on Monday at 5:45 a.m.
According to SD63, job action would mean all classes would be cancelled and buses would not be running.
CUPE Local 441 president Dean Coates said the local could not reach an agreement that addresses concerns of its members such as lower wages compared to their counterparts in Sooke and Victoria. Members are asking for comparable wages with other districts on the South Island.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Saanich CUPE members willing to take job action over wage discrepancies
Members of the local include education assistants, technical support staff, library techs, youth and family counsellors and clerical, custodial, grounds, maintenance, transportation, trades and District support staff. The local represents nearly 500 kindergarten to grade 12 support staff workers in SD63.
The Board of Education vice-chair Elsie McMurphy said wage disparity between school districts is a priority for both parties.
“We believe we’ve put a fair proposal on the table, one which distributes the maximum funding available in a manner which reduces the greatest differences between us and our neighbours,” McMurphy said.
The Board of Education says its offer seeks to apply larger wage increases to positions that have “fallen the furthest behind” such as education assistants and other educational, secretarial and school support positions. The proposals also provide wage increases for all support staff in excess of six per cent over the three-year term of the agreement, in line with other settlements in school districts and other employee groups in the province, according to the Board.
The board says “the maximum funding available, as per the Provincial Framework Agreement and the Collective Agreement, has already been allocated to the fullest extent possible in the current proposals.”
READ ALSO: Mediation the next step in SD63 wage dispute
The local bargained with the employer on six occasions and participated in two sessions with a mediator to try and reach an agreement, according to CUPE. SD63 says the parties met with a mediator on Oct. 22.
CUPE says that in August, “a large number of members” voted in favour of taking job action if necessary.
“Our local is profoundly disappointed that we were unable to come to an agreement and we are available to meet with the employer any time, 24/7,” said Coates. “Our goal was always to reach an agreement that addresses members’ needs without disrupting students and families in Saanich.”
McMurphy said the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) requires the Board of Education to ratify an agreement by Nov. 30.
“In the event we can’t reach a settlement by that date we are concerned that some of the funding associated with the PFA, which we are relying on to enhance our proposed wage increases, will no longer be available,” McMurphy said.
Parents and guardians are being asked to check the Saanich Schools website for additional updates.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com