Support staff at Halifax school board vote in favour of strike action

Members have been without a contract since July 2011

More than 800 educational support staff at the Halifax Regional School Board (HRSB) have voted 93 per cent in favour of strike action.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 5047 says talks will begin Feb. 13 with the assistance of a conciliation officer from the Department of Labour.

“After holding a series of strike vote meetings across the Halifax Regional Municipality between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5, we received a very strong strike mandate from our members,” said Local 5047 president Ian Wilson. We trust this will send a message to our employer that a much more concerted effort has to be made to resolve the outstanding issues in this dispute.”

Key issues include wages and seniority, according to Wilson. The members have been without a contract since July 2011.

Members of the bargaining unit include educational program assistants, community outreach workers, library support specialists, early childhood education workers and aboriginal support workers who work at 140 sites across Halifax Regional Municipality.

Latest stories