[An image of a school hallway. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

School support workers in Abbotsford have voted in favour of a strike mandate, signaling potential disruptions to school operations if ongoing contract negotiations fail to reach an agreement.

On October 26, 2026, Teamsters Local 31, the union representing support staff in the Abbotsford School District, voted in favour of a strike mandate.

The school district confirmed the result in an official announcement on October 27, emphasizing that no strike action had been announced, and that schools remained open and operating normally.

The vote does not mean that employees will immediately stop working.

Instead, it authorizes the union  to take strike action if negotiations remain unresolved.

Under British Columbia’s Labour Relations Code, the strike vote remains valid for three months unless both parties agree otherwise in writing.

The union must also provide written notice to the district and the BC Labour Relations Board at least 72 hours before a strike can begin, subject to further legal requirements.

According to Teamsters Local 31, negotiations commenced in September 2025.

Despite 15 meetings, the union and the district failed to reach an agreement, leading the union to request mediation in September 2026.

Teamsters Local 31 has raised concerns about staff shortages, increasing workloads, and difficulties recruiting and retaining employees. 

The union also criticized the district’s use of subcontracted workers and claimed that its proposals had not been adequately addressed during negotiations.

Support staff play an important role in the daily operation of schools. Unlike teachers, these employees work in positions such as education assistants, school bus drivers, custodians, crossing guards, and administrative assistants.

They assist students with learning needs, maintain school facilities, support transportation, and handle administrative responsibilities.

Therefore, a potential strike could affect more than classroom instruction.

If support workers stop working, schools may face challenges involving student supervision, transportation, maintenance, and specialized learning assistance.

Students who rely on education assistants for additional support could be particularly affected, while families might need to adjust their daily schedules if school services become unavailable.

The Abbotsford School District has acknowledged the possibility of school closures and is developing plans to reduce disruptions.

Its stated priority is to keep students in school whenever it is safe and operationally feasible.

However, the district also cautioned that if schools are forced to close, school-based childcare services, StrongStart, and other early learning programs would be affected.

This situation arises amid broader collective bargaining negotiations involving public school support workers across British Columbia.

The BC public school employers’ association and representatives of school support staff reached a provincial framework agreement in April 2026.

The agreement addresses province-wide matters, including compensation, but individual school districts must still negotiate agreements with their local unions. 

As of October 5th, the association reported that 22 local support staff collective agreements had been fully ratified across BC.

The association expects negotiations to continue throughout the fall and early winter, with local bargaining anticipated to conclude by January 2027.

For students and parents in Abbotsford, the immediate concern is uncertainty over whether school routines will be affected.

Although no strike had been announced as of October 30, a prolonged labour dispute could create difficulties for families who rely on consistent school schedules, transportation, and educational support services.

The district has pledged to continue providing updates as more information becomes available.

As of now, schools remain open, and the possibility of future job action remains uncertain.

The situation highlights the important role support workers play in maintaining a stable learning environment and the potential consequences for students and families if an agreement cannot be reached.