School support workers reach tentative deal with district

Central Okanagan Public Schools and CUPE Local 3523 have announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement 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,” a news release from the union stated.

No details of the tentative deal were released with ratification votes to be held over the coming weeks.

The agreement comes a week after the 1,400 school support workers voted 99 per cent in favour of job action to back their demands.

The staff work at 46 schools throughout the Central Okanagan with roles such as education assistants, grounds workers and Indigenous support workers along with bus drivers, custodians, library assistants and early childhood educators.