While, parents continue to wait for a province-wide resolution to the labour dispute between the B.C. government and its teachers, support workers at five B.C. school districts have reached tentative deals.
The latesest contract signings bring the total number of districts with agreements to 21.
Covering the districts of Central Okanagan, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Cowichan Valley, Coast Mountains and Nisga'a the agreements will give workers a 5.5 per cent wage increase over five years.
The deal also allows for more compensation if the B.C. economy exceeds the annual forecasts set out by the Economic Forecast Council in the last four years of the agreement.
So far, 9,700 support workers have ratified agreements and staff in other districts are negotiating towards contract deals by November.
In the meantime, negotiators for the BC Teachers' Federation and the employers association will meet this Friday for talks for the first time in several weeks.
Both sides in those negotiations are expected to make contract proposals.
With files from CP
