Catholic school board workers vote to continue strike
CBC News
Posted: Sep 12, 2012 7:50 PM MT
Last Updated: Sep 12, 2012 9:44 PM MT
Support workers with Edmonton's Catholic School Board voted on Wednesday to continue their strike.
More than 900 secretaries, librarians and assistants for students with special needs walked off the job on Monday morning over wages, job security and full-time positions being reduced to part-time.
Wednesday's voting results show 72 per cent of the workers have rejected the latest offer.
According to a release issued by the school board, a total of 760 support staff voted over the past two days and 546 rejected the contract offer while 211 voted in favour of it. There were three spoiled ballots.
"The school district had questions about the solidarity of our membership," said Brian Burrell, a spokesman for the union.
"This result answers those questions. As a solid, determined group, we invite the district to return to the bargaining table to come to a fair and just agreement."
Board chair Debbie Engel said in the release that officials were very disappointed by the workers' rejection of their latest offer.
"We realize the impact of a strike on parents, students and staff and we hope to meet shortly with the union's negotiating committee to resume negotiations," Engel said.
"Schools will remain open as the strike continues.”
The school board asked the Alberta Labour Relations Board to order this second vote on its offer after only half the striking workers voted last week.
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