OneCity school board candidates back IUOE Local 963 after 96.9 per cent strike vote
OneCity Vancouver's five school board candidates published a solidarity statement on October 10 supporting IUOE Local 963 workers after the union voted 96.9 per cent in favour of strike action against the Vancouver School Board.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on onecityvancouver.ca.
OneCity's five school board trustee candidates published a statement on October 10, 2026 expressing support for IUOE Local 963 workers at the Vancouver School Board. The party says IUOE members voted 96.9 per cent in favour of taking strike action.
The statement is from the five candidates: Rory Brown, Krista Sigurdson, Sherry Breshears, Steve Cardwell, and Christopher Lee (李基鵬). They say they support IUOE Local 963 workers "as they enter this critical time in the collective bargaining process," according to the party's own statement.
IUOE Local 963 represents workers in Vancouver public schools including Power Engineers, Cafeteria Workers, and Supervision Aides, according to the same statement.
What OneCity says about the dispute
The party says the current Vancouver School Board put concessions on the table that, in the party's characterization, would devalue IUOE members' work and qualifications. The statement does not describe the specific concessions or provide a breakdown of the board's position.
The OneCity statement does not include a response from the current Vancouver School Board. No response from the current board was found at the time of publication.
The party's statement ends with a direct comparison: "The choice in the upcoming Vancouver School Board election is clear: four more years of ABC chaos, or stability, respect and progress for Vancouver families with OneCity Vancouver Trustees." That characterization is the party's own and has not been verified against an independent account of the board's record.
What ABC Vancouver says
The OneCity statement makes a claim against the current board, which has an ABC Vancouver majority. No response from ABC Vancouver was found at the time of publication. The source for this article is the OneCity party's own website.
What voters can do
Vancouver voters choose nine school board trustees on October 17, 2026, on the same ballot as Mayor, City Council, and Park Board. You can see each candidate's profile at voche.me and find your voting place at the where-to-vote page.
Questions this story answers
What did OneCity's school board candidates say about IUOE Local 963?
On October 10, 2026, OneCity Vancouver published a statement on its website from its five school board trustee candidates (Rory Brown, Krista Sigurdson, Sherry Breshears, Steve Cardwell, and Christopher Lee) expressing encouragement for IUOE Local 963 workers during what the party called a critical time in their collective bargaining with the Vancouver School Board. The party said it is thrilling that IUOE's membership is so united.
What was the IUOE Local 963 strike vote result?
According to the OneCity statement published October 10, 2026, IUOE Local 963 members voted 96.9 per cent in favour of taking strike action. The vote came during a labour dispute with the Vancouver School Board. IUOE Local 963 represents workers in Vancouver public schools including Power Engineers, Cafeteria Workers, and Supervision Aides.
What does OneCity say about the current Vancouver School Board's position?
The OneCity statement says the current Vancouver School Board put concessions on the table that the party says would devalue IUOE members' work and qualifications. OneCity's statement did not include a response from the current board. No response from the current Vancouver School Board was found at the time this article was published.
Who are OneCity's five school board candidates?
OneCity Vancouver is running five candidates for Vancouver School Board trustee in the October 17, 2026 election: Rory Brown, Krista Sigurdson, Sherry Breshears, Steve Cardwell, and Christopher Lee. Voters elect nine trustees in total. You can see each candidate's profile at voche.me.
What work do IUOE Local 963 members do in Vancouver schools?
According to the OneCity statement, IUOE Local 963 members work in Vancouver public schools in roles including Power Engineers, Cafeteria Workers, and Supervision Aides. The party says their work provides essential, qualified, experienced, and stable service to Vancouver families.
Has there been a response from the current Vancouver School Board?
The OneCity statement does not include a response from the current Vancouver School Board. The source for this article is OneCity's own website, and no response from the current board was found at the time of publication. The current board has an ABC Vancouver majority.
Why does a school board labour dispute matter in the election?
The Vancouver School Board is an elected body. Voters on October 17, 2026 will choose nine school board trustees who will decide issues including budget, staffing, and labour relations with school workers. A labour dispute in the weeks before the election means the position each party takes on the dispute is relevant to voters choosing school board trustees.
Where can I find out more about the Vancouver School Board candidates?
You can see the full list of Vancouver School Board candidates, including their party affiliations and profiles, at voche.me. Voting takes place on October 17, 2026. All four races (Mayor, City Council, Park Board, and School Board) are decided on the same ballot. Find your voting place at the where-to-vote page on voche.me.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
