Media Release: St. Margaret’s School teachers and support staff have voted to strike
Publish date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 news
May 16, 2023 (Victoria) – PEA members who work for St. Margaret’s School have voted 88% in favour of job action and issued 72-hour strike notice. There are currently over 47 teachers and 65 support staff who work at the all-girls private school in Victoria, and all of them are paid significantly less than their counterparts in both BC public schools and comparable independent schools.
“This strike vote result shows that our members are willing to take action to back up their bargaining demands,” said Rhiannon Bray, Labour Relations Officer with the PEA who has been leading talks with the school.
The Professional Employees Association (PEA), the union representing members at St. Margaret’s School, entered bargaining with the school on February 11, 2023 but reached impasse on April 14 when wages, work intensification, and extended health benefits were not meaningfully addressed.
The PEA has begun planning job action, including full withdrawal of services that could impact year end activities and potentially the start of the school year in September, but remains committed to getting back to the table once the school provides a meaningful offer that recognizes the value of its teachers and support staff.
St. Margaret’s PEA members include the faculty who teach Kindergarten through Grade 12, education assistants, early childhood educators, support staff who manage the school grounds, office and administration, kitchen and laundry facilities, and boarding parents.
“We’re asking St. Margaret’s School to invest in all workers so that student learning doesn’t suffer in the years ahead,” said Bray. “This means a fair deal for the whole school.”
Learn more about the work of St. Margaret’s School teachers.
About the PEA
The Professional Employees Association is a labour union for professionals. Formed in 1974 to represent the Government Licensed Professionals employed in the BC public service, the union has grown to represent professionals in the education, legal, union and health care sectors.
- 30 -
Media Contact:
Jordana Whetter, Senior Communications Officer
jwhetter@pea.org
Phone: 250-385-8791 ext. 210
In this section
The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.
Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.
Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.
Resources for our members
Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.
Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.
Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.
The heart of our union
The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.
Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.
Professionals need unions now more then ever
Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.
We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.
