Bargaining resumed Friday afternoon on the fifth day of a strike that has kept approximately 8,000 students in the Saanich School District from going to class.
About 500 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 441 began picketing Monday morning in a dispute over support workers’ lack of pay equity with those in neighbouring school districts.
As a result, district schools have been closed all week.
“We are pleased to hear that both parties are returning to the bargaining table,” Education Minister Rob Fleming said in a statement. “What I’ve heard from both parties, very clearly, is that they’re confident they can achieve an agreement within the Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate.”
That mandate dictates the maximum amount the district is able to offer the school support workers, including education assistants, custodians and maintenance staff.
Fleming said the ministry is hopeful of a resolution “so workers can get a fair deal and kids can get back to the classroom.”
“We understand the stress and disruption this action is causing for parents and families in Saanich, and we continue to monitor the situation closely.”
CUPE 441 president Dean Coates said both sides realize how hard things have been for families and students, along with CUPE 441 members and teachers.
“Local 441 is committed to working hard to reach a deal that meets the needs of our students and members so that we can be back in classes this Monday,” he said.
The Saanich School Board said it is looking to address pay issues by offering larger wage hikes for the positions that have fallen most behind — including education assistants and some clerical staff — while still providing all staff with increases exceeding six per cent over three years.
Recruitment and retention of workers are also issues, said board vice-chairwoman Elsie McMurphy. The union has said it’s hard to recruit and retain staff when people earn more for the same job in other districts.
Some parents have been scrambling to find places for their children to go during the strike.
Jacquie Langley has been taking her child to a program organized by the District of Saanich and run out of the Greek Orthodox Church on Elk Lake Drive. The cost is $40 a day.
“It’s a really good thing,” said Langley, who heads directly to her job after dropoff.
Without the program, she said, she would have to take unpaid time off work. “I have no vacation time left for the year.”
Langley said she is hopeful the strike won’t extend past one week. “I understand the reasons behind it but it’s tough for everyone.”
Billie Lepage said she found out about the program at the church through her son’s school, Lochside Elementary. “They sent an email to all the parents saying what would be available and what time registration opened so that I was able to be on top of it.”
She also said her only other option would be to miss work — and a paycheque.
Things are a little different for Farrah Simpson. She works full-time but her husband is a shift worker whose schedule has so far allowed him to care of their two older children, who attend Keating Elementary School.
Simpson said they are also caring for her sister’s school-aged child.
“It just seems to be the word around the street that families are trying to help other families,” she said. “It’s definitely been a struggle for many families.”
Simpson said that an end to the strike would be “such a relief.” It’s never good to miss classes, especially this early in the school year, she said. “The kids are just getting adjusted into their routines, and getting used to their teachers and friends.”
Simpson said parents realize the importance of support workers. “They know they can’t have a successful school system without them,” she said. “We just wish there was another solution. I’m not sure what that is at this point.”
