Your K-12 provincial bargaining committee will be returning to the bargaining table February 17 with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA). As you heard from the Presidents Council in its last bulletin, we are at a critical point in our bargaining for a provincial framework agreement.
Over the past few months, some public sector unions have reached agreements with their employers, fully funded by the provincial government. At our table, however, the employer’s current proposals do not address our key priorities, and the funding being offered by the province falls far short of what other public sector unions have received.
Your bargaining committee is united that we will not accept proposals that continue the chronic underfunding of our public schools. We will not accept an agreement that does not include increased earning potential and more sustainable workloads for school support workers. We will not accept less for our members then what has been given to other public sector unions.
If nothing changes in the employer’s positions on February 17, an agreement will not be within reach at the table. Your bargaining committee believes we will need to consider escalating pressure on BCPSEA and the provincial government.
Your bargaining committee is busy preparing for this important bargaining session. The locals of the Presidents Council, along with CUPE leaders and staff are ready to support the bargaining committee at this critical stage and have the plan ready to ensure our union and our members are ready to do what it takes to get an agreement that addresses our key priorities.
Your bargaining committee knows it can count on the support of members and locals across the province. We know we can count on CUPE BC, the national union, and more than 800,000 CUPE members to have our backs. Together, we will get the fair deal we deserve.
We will provide an update as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your local. Please also ensure your local has your current contact information.