Support staff at the College of New Caledonia will take a strike vote next week after talks with CNC administrators broke down on Thursday.
Union negotiators were told their request for wage increases was turned down by the provincial government and that there was no money for a new contract. Under the Liberals' co-operative gains mandate, public sector employers such as colleges are required to find savings in their operating budgets to pay for wage increases for support workers.
CUPE Local 4951 represents about 350 operational staff at CNC's main campus in Prince George and its five regional campuses in Mackenzie, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Quesnel and Burns Lake. That includes custodians, cafeteria staff, day care workers, administrative assistants, project planners, admissions and continuing education staff, and employees of the bookstores and print rooms, who have been without a contract since June 2010.
A strike vote is scheduled for Wednesday. If that vote passes, the union would be required to serve 72-hour strike notice with the B.C. Labour Relations Board.
The union local wants a collective agreement similar to that given UNBC support staff in CUPE Local 3379 last month, which guaranteed two per cent wage increases in 2012 and 2013.
Local 4951 president Lily Bachand could not be reached for comment, nor could CNC management.
Support staff at several B.C. colleges are now working without a contract. CUPE 4627 at Vancouver Community College has launched strike action and staff at several other colleges are planning strike votes.
