Striking operational staff returned to the picket lines Wednesday morning at the College of New Caledonia on Day 2 of their walkout.
Whether they remain off the job for a third day is dependent on whether the provincial government announces it is prepared to offer a pay raise to the 345 support staff at six CNC campuses sufficient enough to bring the sides back together to settle the 2 1/2-year old labour dispute.
Until that offer is made, CUPE Local 4951 president Lily Bachand said the union is making plans to extend the strike and is asking members to register for strike duty on Thursday.
"We're hoping the government will get in touch with us before that, but so far we've got nothing," said Bachand. "I'm telling my members to sign up on the picket line, because we can always cancel that."
CUPE support staff remained off the job Wednesday at Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, North Island College, and College of the Rockies. CNC is co-ordinating its job action with that of the other colleges and they plan to stick together until the strike is settled.
"We'll make that decision tonight," said Bachand. "I know the college would like an answer, but I can't give them an answer until we have some idea. For us to go back in [without a new offer], these two days would have been useless. That would mean our members went two days without pay for nothing, and I'll be damned if we turn around and say it's for nothing."
The other colleges are united in their demand for four per cent raises spread over two years. CNC has been without a contract since June 2010.
Advanced Education Minister John Yap was meeting with the Post-Secondary Employers' Association bargaining team Wednesday morning in Victoria. Ministry spokesman Dan Gilmore said a decision on the government's next course of action was expected later today.
Support staff represented by the B.C. Government Employees Union held a one-day walkout Monday at the B.C. Institute of Technology and Vancouver Community College. Earlier today, vocational instructors at BCIT announced they'd voted 89 per cent in favour of strike action.
