FORT ST. JOHN — CUPE 4653, K-12 support workers in SD60 (Peace River North) reached a tentative agreement on June 19 following a two-day session.
“It was a productive bargaining session with professionalism and respect shown on both sides,” said CUPE 4653 President Maureen Hummel. “I am extremely proud of our bargaining team for their dedication and passion as they worked to make sure that ‘no one was left behind’.”
Hummel said that the Local’s national servicing representative brought knowledge and experience to the table, enabling the very new bargaining team to achieve a tentative agreement that provided something for all members.
The provincial framework agreement (PFA) approved by the K-12 Presidents’ Council in September forms part of the tentative agreement. The current K-12 agreement expires on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school districts, the provincial agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.
Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed by the end of June.
CUPE 4653 members provide a wide variety of services to support children including Aboriginal Support Workers, Clerical, Custodial, Educational Assistants, Maintenance, School Bus Drivers, Trades, Technology and Youth Care Workers.
CUPE 4653 represents more than 500 members who provide services in Fort St. John and the surrounding communities of Baldonnel, Buick Creek, Clearview, Hudson’s Hope, Montney, North Pine, Pineview, Prespatou, Taylor, Upper Halfway and Wonowon in the North Peace region.
To find out more about CUPE members working in K-12, visit bcschools.cupe.ca.