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February 21, 2000, Kelowna The CUPE Local representing 1200 school support workers in the Central Okanagan School District have decided to take a strike vote to support their demands for fairness in this round of bargaining.

At a local meeting on Saturday, February 19, CUPE local 3523 members unanimously endorsed a proposal to take the strike vote. Bill Zeman, local 3523 president said “We are frustrated with the employers complete lack of understanding over the uncertain situation our members face. Weve been without a contract for well over two years and our employer is either unwilling or unable, due to constraints from BCPSEA, to settle our issues.”

Gary Johnson, CUPE national servicing representative said, “Local 3523 school workers join other school workers in putting their long-term frustration over the unfair treatment of support staff and unfair strain on the services these people provide to students in the school system. Like other members of CUPEs K-12 Sectoral Bargaining Committee (SBC) these members want employers and government to listen and negotiate in fairness.”

Local 3523 has been without a contract since July 1997. The strike vote will take place within the next eight days.

Information:
Bill Zeman, President, CUPE 3523
(250) 860-3523
Gary Johnson, CUPE national servicing representative
(604) 219-3703

Regular information updates regarding CUPE K-12 Sectoral Bargaining can be found at www.cupe.bc.ca/sbc

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