CUPE support workers in three Okanagan school districts threaten job action

PENTICTON, B.C. – Students across the Okanagan could have some unexpected time away from the classroom later this week if negotiations between three school districts and CUPE support staff collapse.

Members of CUPE local 523 are in a legal strike position in the Okanagan-Similkameen, Okanagan-Skaha and North Okanagan-Shuswap districts, with a major bargaining session set for today.

The three school districts negotiate as a single group and CUPE spokesman Rob Hewitt says his members are angry about what the union believes is an attempt to claw back long-term disability savings.

The school districts deny those allegations.

Hewitt says if progress is not made during bargaining today, targeted job action could occur Tuesday, with a full-scale walkout possible by Wednesday.

Teachers in all three districts say they will honour any picket lines.