VICTORIA — CUPE 947, representing K-12 support workers at School District 61, ratified their tentative agreement on July 4 following six sessions of bargaining that began in May.
CUPE 947 President Jane Massy praised the Local’s bargaining team for conducting good conversations. The committee had several new members, but each played an integral role with guidance from their National Representative.
“We negotiated language that will benefit all members, and we were really happy with some of the gains we made for our casual workers,” said Massy.
The tentative agreement also incorporates the provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September. The current K-12 agreement expired on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school district boards of trustees, the collective 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 mid-July.
CUPE 947 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Indigenous Support Workers, Clerical, Early Childhood Educators, IT, and Administrative Support. They provide K-12 support service in Greater Victoria at 22 K-12 schools in School District 61.
To find out more about CUPE members working in K-12, visit bcschools.cupe.ca.