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B.C. teachers' strike taking toll on support staff

School support staff in B.C. say they are struggling to make ends meet as they walk the picket lines in solidarity with striking B.C. teachers.


The 34,000 mostly CUPE members, include education assistants, admin staff, IT workers and janitors, are currently receiving $75 per day during the strike.


Under terms of a recent tentative contract deal of their own, the affected staff will eventually receive back pay to cover their losses, but not until 30 days after that contract is ratified — which could be as late as November 30.


"It's very difficult," Sabine Goertz, a child and youth care worker says. "We actually don't make that much money. The regular child care worker or EA [education assistant] makes between $30-35,000. So for me not to get paid a thousand dollars is quite a bit of money."


New Westminster education assistant Christine Van Kalsbeek has two sons.


She works on a ten month contract, and she says she usually plans ahead, putting money away in June to cover her through July, when her EI kicks in.


"It's just going to be tight over the summer," she says. "Which is tough because the kids are out of school and want to do things."


CUPE 409 president, Marcel Marsolais, says the support staff are really struggling, and the CUPE office has received calls from some members who say there is no food in their fridge. He says though no food bank is in place for them now, it is something they may look at putting together by the end of the week.


He says that staff are also concerned at the rising backlog of work piling up, and how that will be managed.


Those on year-round contracts, however, will be quick to organize summer school, should the situation allow it.


"If things get back to somewhat normal next week, and there are no picket lines, CUPE will be working," he says. "We'll try and organize summer school and get it up and running."


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