Possible CUPE strike affecting School District 63 (Saanich)

As many of you are aware, the union representing support staff members in Saanich school district (CUPE) has served strike notice to the school district. The union has indicated that it intends to begin a full strike beginning Monday, Oct 28th @ 5:45am.

Faculty, librarians, staff and students with children in those schools are encouraged to continue to monitor news reports and/or information provided by the school district for current information. 

Should a strike occur, many faculty, librarians, staff and students with children in these schools will be looking for alternative child care arrangements. Some members of the university community may have very limited availability for child care options.  We ask that supervisors, managers, chairs/directors, and deans exercise flexibility when responding to requests related to child care responsibilities and permit access vacation time, banked overtime/compensatory time off, or personal leave without pay, in accordance with the relevant collective agreement.

We also recognize that some of our academic units and programs may need to adjust planned activities that involve faculty, librarians, staff or UVic students engaging with the public school system (either on campus or in the community).  Again, we encourage you to monitor news reports and the school district website.

We also encourage faculty members, sessional and other course instructors to accommodate those students who are unable to attend classes due to child care issues.

If you have questions concerning the above, please contact your supervisor, manager, chair/director or dean, as appropriate.  Students who are unable to attend classes should consult with their course instructors and/or chair/director as appropriate.

For further information about how Saanich School District schools will be affected please visit the school district website.