Unifor support workers at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board voted overwhelmingly to support a strike as the deadline looms.
That puts 370 workers in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17.
"The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board has been given every opportunity to seek a resolution," said Deb Tveit, assistant to the Unifor national president, in a news release. "Our members have been working without a contract for over two-years now and, as of today, the Board isn't even coming to the negotiating table."
Unifor Local 2458 represents two bargaining units consisting of office, clerical workers and technicians, and custodians and maintenance staff.
"Wages have been frozen since 2012, and now the Board is seeking to retroactively claw back prior gains," said Unifor national representative Darlene Prouse. "Our members have had enough, it's time for fairness."
The strike mandate was authorized with votes of 92 per cent by the office, clerical and technician unit and 100 per cent by the custodial and maintenance unit.
Unifor had been in ongoing talks to secure a new collective agreement, the strike vote was held after negotiations came to an impasse. Both bargaining units have been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2014.
Schools remain open
The school board issued a statement on Thursday to let parents know schools will still be open if the strike goes ahead.
“We would like to assure parents and other members of the community that our schools, as well as the Catholic Education Centre, will remain open should these employees choose to go out on strike on Monday morning,” said the statement.
“We do have a contingency plan in place that will allow for the safe operation of our schools.”
The board says transportation for those students who use bus services will continue as normal. All child care centres and before & after school programs will remain open for their regular operating hours.
Extracurricular activities may continue at the discretion of the principal, but community use of schools will be suspended if strike action is taken, said the board.
