Deal reached to head off possible job action by support staff in Central Okanagan schools

Photo: Contributed

A tentative collective agreement should head off a strike by support staff in Central Okanagan Schools.

A joint statement issued Monday by CUPE Local 3523 and School District #23 announced a deal was reached over the weekend.

“With the help of a mediator, both parties worked through the weekend to build an agreement and avoid any job action or interruption to services. The professionalism and hard work of all parties involved resulted in a tentative agreement to be ratified over the coming weeks,” read the statement.

“Central Okanagan Public Schools continues to value the work of all staff in the district who strive to create excellent learning opportunities for students.”

The tentative agreement comes a week after the union representing non-teaching professionals within the Central Okanagan School District voted 99 per cent in favour of taking job action.

A three-year contract reached in Dec. 2019, expired last June 30.

No details on the new deal have been released, pending ratification votes.

CUPE Local 3523 represents over 1,400 school support and clerical staff, bus drivers, custodians and education assistants in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, and the Regional District of Central Okanagan.