As we wrap up another school year, the K-12 Presidents Council would like to recognize the exemptional work of all school support workers. Throughout the year, students, families, and communities have been able to depend on you every day.
Thank you for your work keeping our schools, buses and other learning environments clean, healthy and safe for all, and for providing the highest quality of services to our public education system.
Celebrating our successes
Over this past school year, we successfully bargained a new Provincial Framework Agreement with the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association. The 3-year PFA gained new commitments for support staff education, a new Provincial Joint Health and Safety Taskforce with a mandate that includes supporting measures to address workplace violence prevention, and $3 million in annual funding for benefit enhancements.
For members in locals participating in the Unionized Support Staff Extended Health Plan, these enhancements take effect July 1, 2023 (click HERE for a summary of these improvements).
The PFA also included general wage increases and cost of living adjustments that exceed those seen in most other Canadian jurisdictions. The full 6.75 percent wage cost of living adjustment ifor this year of the PFA was triggered. This increase comes into effect July 1, 2023.
The PFA also includes a cost-of-living wage protection for July 1, 2024. We expect to have information on this increase in March of next year.
Building on the PFA, all K-12 school support locals concluded local bargaining in March. Several locals across the province were faced with concession demands. But members stepped up with mobilization efforts, participating in strike training and kept united fronts across the province.
The credit for our successes sits with our members. Your ongoing support and participation helped us make real gains that we can build on in the coming years.
Looking ahead
We all know how quickly summer seems to go by, and the K-12 Presidents Council is already preparing for the next school year. Next October the Council will be holding its first in-person meeting since the pandemic. Local presidents will be discussing the issue important to our members and how your union can best support you in your workplaces.
Once again, thank you for your support and for the work you do every day. Have a good summer.
View PDF here.