Non-teaching school board workers across the South Shore are joining other local unions in favour of taking strike action. CUPE received strike mandates from 220 workers with the Local 964, Tri-County School Board and 225 people with the Local 4682, South Shore Regional School Board by a 97 per cent vote. The union last met with the Department of Education in May to discuss a new contract for non-teaching staff including janitors, bus drivers, teaching assistants and library techs. CUPE School Board coordinator Kathy MacLeod says pensions are a big part of the negotiations.
Other local unions with the Chignecto and Strait Regional School Boards voted 88% in favour of a strike mandate. CUPE represents 3,700 school board workers across the province. A conciliation officer with the Department of Labour will join the talks when the two sides return to the bargaining table Thursday in Dartmouth.
