CALGARY (CBC) - An overwhelming majority of secretaries, teachers' aides, psychologists and IT staff with the Calgary Board of Education have voted in favour of a strike that could see them walk off the job before the end of the school year.

The 3,300 educational support staff represented by the CBE Staff Association cast their ballots on the issue Wednesday night, with 91 per cent of those who attended the meeting supporting a strike.

Association chair Jean Minifie said she was "very pleased" with the results.

"This is their way of saying to CBE that they really are invaluable employees, and they are really pillars of the organization," she said.

The association represents support workers, including IT staff, administrative secretaries and lunchroom supervisors, as well as professionals such as psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

The union's collective agreement expired more than eight months ago, and workers have identified wages, workplace respect and staff treatment as key points in the contract talks.

Minifie said the workers are looking to be treated like other staff and would like to see promises from the board on issues such as job sharing, health benefits and job evaluations put into a written agreement.

Members won't walk off the job until they meet and decide to serve a 72-hour strike notice, she said. However, she noted, staff could take other job action immediately, such as refusing to work overtime.

The association has a meeting scheduled for May 15 to discuss the vote outcome and the union's next steps.

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