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SUNDAY
February 9, 1997

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Call George Pilney

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Wesr Vancouver Branch

NEWS photo Terry Peters

CUPE members Maggie Leask (left) and Cindy Guss picketed outside Lonsdale Elementary Friday morning as a strike forced students out of their classrooms.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

PICKETS were up and students were out
Friday as the first day of a CUPE strike
gripped North Vancouver.

Negotiators for the 750-member support staff union and the
British Columbia Public Schools Employers Association could
not bridge a difference over money — less than $15,000 y
— to prevent a suike in the $100-million-a

The Gilure left one North Vancouver mother calling tor a
declaration that education be considered an essential service. She

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CUPE strike hits NV schools
after two sides unable to
bridge $15,000 contract gap

children the way other education groups are represented.

“Once you get organized groups negodating on behalf of their
members, kids get squeezed out of the equation,” said Chrislana
Gregory, the mother of 1 arisbrooke elementary students.

She said she’s glad there is now a provincial organization
the emplovers ation — that reviews public school emplos
ce contracts.

But noting the small difference beeween the nwo sides, she

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WV artist
Bruce Perry at
Ferry Building

said of the employers association, “I’m just concerned this isn’t
necessarily the issue to be flexing their muscles on.”

While stay-at-home-mom Gregory planned an ousng to
Maplewood Farms for her children Friday, she realized the strike
will inconvenience some working mothers “horribly.”

A few students were taking advantage of the $25 Lonsdale
Recreation C $ re Friday morning.

Hayley, Megan and Bryce had a day of crafts, swimming,
skating and zame id of them.

Of the three, only tive-y td Bryce missed school, His rea-
son? “Because [want to go out at recess,” he said.

Meanwhile, recreation centre coordinator Perry aulak said
he expected more than the six kids to show up at the hastily

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