Job action looms as CUPE BC public school employees seek wage hike

VANCOUVER – Talks have broken off between the provincial government and CUPE education workers, raising the spectre of job action in B.C.’s public schools this fall.

CUPE BC President’s Council chairman Colin Pawson says the BC Public School Employers Association called the union back to negotiations this month.

But Pawson alleges BCPSEA, which is now overseen by the education ministry, is still not in a position to bargain.

He says if the province can’t provide a committed bargaining agent, 27,000 CUPE members in public schools across the province will take full scale job action.

Wage increases are at the heart of the impasse.

CUPE says education assistants, clerical staff, trades, custodians, bus drivers and other employees have not received a salary boost in more than four years and their last contract expired over one year ago.