Nanaimo/Ladysmith K-12 support workers reach tentative agreement

NANAIMO — CUPE 606, K-12 support workers at School District 68, reached a tentative agreement on Sunday, July 14 following many sessions of bargaining that began in early April.

“Our committee was pleased with the outcome at the end of the day,” said CUPE 606 President Rob Zver. “We were able to achieve improvements that will touch almost all members. We want to thank the employer’s bargaining committee for working in a positive way to attain a new Collective Agreement.”

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 in this month.

CUPE 606 members, who provide services that support students, include Education Assistants, Family Youth Child Support workers, Indigenous Support workers, Custodians, Clerical, Trades, Maintenance, Grounds, IT, Community School Coordinators, Cafeteria workers, Administrative Support, Bus Drivers, and Strong Start workers. The Local of 700-plus members provides K-12 support in 27 elementary and 7 secondary schools in SD68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith).