One of the most tumultuous school years in a decade has come to an end in School District 43. But with labour agreements for both B.C. teachers and CUPE support workers yet to be worked out, and heavier workloads to make up for 142 job cuts made to save $12.5 million, the next school year could prove to be just as challenging.
CUPE is first off the mark with a significant mandate in support of job action. Local 561 president Dave Ginter said his members voted 87.4% in support of strike action last Thursday, one of the largest strike mandates ever for CUPE workers in School District 43.
He said the district's 1,200 workers want the B.C. Public School Employer's Association to put some money on the table in contract talks. But the higher-than-usual mandate, although only 500 members voted, could also be a message that workers are frustrated and morale is down, Ginter said.
"It could be the budget, people are tired of no money, and they see other public sector unions getting more money," he suggested.
He said CUPE workers at 10 school districts in the province still need to vote but if the union gets a strong strike mandate it's because workers want something other than the government's cooperative gains mandate because there is no money to be found in existing school budgets to cover wage increases.
"There is nothing they could give away to make some gains," Ginter said, (Their (SD43's) problems are financial as well. Several months ago, the province went out to the school boards and said 'look where you can find some gains door this or that.' The school boards went back and said there is no fat to cut."
NO SCHOOL CLOSURES
If nothing can be done to prompt a better offer, a strike can be called within 90 days of the vote. But Ginter said there are no plans to shut down a school.
'I would do something that doesn't take teachers out or children out," he said noting that CUPE would look at other options, such as withdrawing caretakers or special education assistants for a day.
Still, he said he hope it doesn't come to that and suggested that with a new Education Minister at the helm, Peter Fassbender, a new perspective on contract talks could be found.
Meanwhile, School District 43 has made the cuts necessary to prevent a budget deficit for the 2013/'14 budget year and is waiting to see what a forensic audit finds out.
Among the job losses in the original budget are 10 managers and administrative positions, 32 Clerical/custodial/facilities, 19 youth workers, special education assistants and a community school coordinator plus 81 teachers/learning support teachers and coordinators.
The district won't know its full financial situation until June 30, when the school year ends, and some of the cuts could be offset by retirements.
An $8 million deficit was also expected for the end of this school year.
