VSB support staff vote 96.9% in favour of a strike
The union representing 900 Vancouver School Board support staff says members voted 96.9 per cent in favour of a strike over the weekend, and could serve 72-hour strike notice at any time.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on vancouver.citynews.ca.
The union representing Vancouver School Board (VSB) support staff says members voted 96.9 per cent in favour of a strike over the weekend, CityNews Vancouver reported on October 5, 2026.
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 963 says negotiations with VSB management have stalled and that a strike may be necessary to reach a new collective agreement. The union says its members could serve 72-hour strike notice at any time.
Union manager Tim De Vivo told CityNews the 96.9 per cent vote reflected how strongly members felt about management's demands. "Our members have rarely gone on strike at Vancouver schools; we are committed to keeping students warm, safe, dry, and fed, but the demands of VSB management are unfair and unnecessary," he said.
The union says it represents 900 VSB employees. Members work as building engineers, custodians, food service workers, supervision aides, and trade-qualified maintenance engineers, among other roles. IUOE Local 963 is not the only union with members at the VSB; the strike authorization covers only its 900 members.
De Vivo said VSB management is seeking to reduce the skill level of some positions, which he said ran against broader workforce needs: "At a time when the entire world is urgently seeking more skilled workers, VSB is trying to de-skill the jobs of some of our members, and that's not on."
No strike has started. The union must serve 72 hours of advance notice before members can walk off the job. The union has not announced when or whether it will file that notice.
CityNews Vancouver said it reached out to the VSB for comment. No response from VSB management was included in the article, and this site found none published before this article was written.
The Vancouver School Board is an elected body. Voters choose School Board trustees on October 17, 2026. You can review School Board candidates at /candidates. Advance voting is available on October 7, 10, and 13, with locations listed at /where-to-vote.
Questions this story answers
What did VSB support staff vote on?
Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 963, which the union says represents 900 Vancouver School Board support staff, voted 96.9 per cent in favour of authorizing a strike if necessary. The union says negotiations with VSB management have stalled and that a strike may be needed to reach a new collective agreement. The vote took place over the weekend of October 4-5, 2026.
Who does IUOE Local 963 represent at the Vancouver School Board?
According to CityNews Vancouver, IUOE Local 963 says it represents 900 Vancouver School Board employees. The union says its members work as building engineers, custodians, food service workers, supervision aides, and trade-qualified maintenance engineers, among other roles.
When could a strike begin?
The union told CityNews Vancouver that members could serve 72-hour strike notice at any time. A 72-hour notice period would need to pass before a strike could legally begin. The union has not announced when or whether notice will be served.
What is the dispute about?
CityNews Vancouver reports the union says negotiations with VSB management have stalled. Union manager Tim De Vivo is quoted saying VSB management is trying to reduce the skill requirements for some positions, which he called unfair and unnecessary. VSB management had not commented as of CityNews's publication.
What did VSB management say?
CityNews Vancouver says the outlet reached out to the Vancouver School Board for comment, but no response was included in the article. This site found no published response from VSB management before this article was written.
What does this mean for Vancouver schools?
A strike by support staff would affect the people who keep school buildings running and students fed. No strike has started. Members have only voted to authorize one if negotiations do not reach an agreement. The situation may change before or after the October 17 election.
Why does this matter to School Board voters?
The Vancouver School Board is an elected body. Voters choose School Board trustees on October 17, 2026. Trustees set the direction for VSB management, including how the board handles labour relations. You can review School Board candidates at voche.me/candidates.
Where can I find out more about voting in Vancouver?
Election day is October 17, 2026. Advance voting takes place on October 7, 10, and 13 at locations across the city. You can find voting locations, School Board candidate profiles, and eligibility information at voche.me/where-to-vote.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Vancouver, October 5, 2026vancouver.citynews.ca
- School Board candidates, voche.mevoche.me
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