EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Food hamper program gets underway Page 5
Dickens’ classic returns to stage at Red Barn Page 6
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013 PM40008236
Vol. 58 No. 49 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Snap: Sicamous karate student Rebecca Erickson breaks two pine boards with an elbow strike Saturday during Provincial Martial Arts’ second annual board breaking event held in Salmon Arm’s Downtown Activity Centre. See more on page 8. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Shuswap schools remain open after job action averted By Tracy Hughes and Richard Rolke Eagle Valley News
Job action has been avoided at North Okanagan-Shuswap schools this week. CUPE Local 523 workers, who represent 1,150 custodians, bus drivers and other education support workers were in a legal position to walk off the job Tuesday but a tentative contract was hammered out Monday. “I think all sides are pleased we have reached an agreement and can avoid a disruption to students,” said Superintendent Glenn Borthistle following the announcement of the tentative deal. The school district had issued a notice to parents Monday advising them of the possibility of strike action on Tuesday and suggesting parents may need to make alternate child-care arrangements. A strike action would have disrupted classes, as the union representing B.C.
Teachers would not bers will vote on the have crossed picket contract but because lines. they are part of a News of the single collective unit agreement was rewith School DisI think all sides are pleased we leased Monday trict #53 (Okanagan have reached an agreement and evening, so schools Similkameen) and can avoided a disruption for the operated as normal School District #67 students. Tuesday. (Okanagan Skaha). Glenn Borthistle CUPE Local 523 That means a majorSuperintendent said the sticking ity vote among the points in negotiatmembers in the three ing revolved around areas will determine clawbacks to longterm disability benefits, al- the fate of the deal and any future job action. though the school district disputed this point. “It’s all three districts or none,” said “It was a hard day for everyone but ev- Hewitt. eryone, put their heads together and found It’s not known when the North Okanacompromises that work for everyone,” said gan-Shuswap school board will vote on the Rob Hewitt, CUPE local 523 bargaining contract, and if there will be support for the committee spokesperson. document. But a level of uncertainty remains. “I’m not sure what it will cost us,” said North Okanagan-Shuswap CUPE mem- Chris Coers, a School District #83 trustee,
who hoped to see some of the details Tuesday. “Hopefully it’s not too much and it’s something we can handle in a different budget and not a budget that’s already been approved.” Hewitt won’t provide any details on how that matter was resolved because the terms have not been released to his members yet. It’s not known when the union membership will vote on the proposed contract. “Our goal is to have it done in a week to 10 days,” said Hewitt, adding that the bargaining committee is recommending endorsement. Benefits are considered a local issue and they were the focus of Monday’s negotiations, while wages are a provincially negotiated matter. The contract calls for a 3.5 per cent raise, including a one per cent raise effective July 1, 2013, followed by two per cent effective Feb. 1, 2014 and a 0.5 per cent increase effective May 1.