March 3, 2000, Port Alberni Support staff in District 70, Alberni Schools, members of CUPE 727 voted 93% yesterday (March 2) in favour of taking strike action should that become necessary in the coming weeks.
Lee Gibson, President of CUPE Local 727, said, “Im not quite sure why the vote was only 93% when I know how exceedingly frustrated every single member of this local has been with the bargaining process and with our employers attitude of disrespect toward support staff concerns and issues.”
Members of CUPE Local 727, who are also part of CUPEs 47-member K-12 Sectoral Bargaining Committee, reached an impasse at the bargaining table over issues of job security, pay equity, benefits and pensions.
Gary Johnson, CUPE national representative and SBC co-ordinator said, “Alberni joins Cowichan, Victoria, Sooke, Saanich and the Gulf Islands as well as locals on the Lower Mainland, in the North, the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan in completing strike votes. As of this morning, the strike vote counts sit at 21. We expect that to climb to 30 or more within the next several days. Like other locals, CUPE 727 is looking for a resolution without a strike. All CUPE locals hope that all levels of employers are listening to CUPE voices.”
Information:
Lee Gibson, President CUPE Local 727
Alberni School support staff,
(250) 724-2002
Gary Johnson, CUPE national representative,
(604) 219-3703.
Regular information updates regarding CUPE K-12 Sectoral Bargaining can be found at www.cupe.bc.ca/sbc