Public schools in the Saanich School District have been closed since Monday, October 28 as part of a Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 441 wage parity strike. This has resulted in over 7,000 children missing school, and some of those children have parents who go to Camosun.
Second-year Marketing student Serena Cizmecigil has two nine-year-old children and few viable options for child care, since, as an international student, she has no family here.
“[The Camosun College Student Society] were trying to be very helpful to me personally, and they did some research to see what sort of arrangement I can do for my kids… But it was just personal support that they were trying to give,” she says. “There was nothing coming from Camosun itself.”
After paying around $200 for two days of child care at a local recreation centre, Cizmecigil resorted to bringing her kids to school with her, which she says was a significant stressor for both her and her children.
“The instructors are very helpful,” she says. “They said [my kids are] more than welcome to come to class, but it’s not easy. I want to be on track with their curriculum—that’s one thing that gives me stress—and I have assignments, I have things to do, I have group projects.”
The college does have a full-time child care program, but it’s only eligible for children up to five years of age.
Camosun VP of education John Boraas says that the college would like to help as much as possible, but it has limited resources.
“As with any student, part of what they have to figure out as they’re beginning their studies is their plan for child care, and they also have to plan for unseen emergent issues,” he says. “I’m not trying to make it sound like it’s easy, but that is the student’s responsibility; all we can do is help and be supportive.”
Boraas urges students to try to find a solution with their instructors. He says Camosun faculty want students to be successful.
“We want to be sure we do what’s necessary so the student can [perhaps] study from home,” he says. “Lots of instructors have provided reading packages, and they’re happy to talk to students. It’s about negotiating a win-win situation.”
Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) external executive Fillette Umulisa says the CCSS is supportive of CUPE 441 and urges students to be patient.
“We stand behind the students in every situation, and we’re really not happy about the inconvenience that this strike will cause them,” she says. “But, at the same time, as a unionized institution, we understand and stand in solidarity with the striking teachers.”
Umulisa says that the main thing the CCSS can do to help is to rally for a quick resolution.
“We’re calling upon the local government, the Saanich school board, and CUPE Local 441 to negotiate this agreement so we can avoid [further] circumstances such as this,” she says.
In the meantime, Boraas says that students are encouraged to look for bursaries or other emergency solutions with Camosun’s Financial Aid office.
As for Cizmecigil, she says that if the strike continues long-term, she’ll have to fly a family member from Turkey to look after her children.
“It’s not cheap, but I have to graduate,” she says. “I have to find a way.”