Your K-12 provincial bargaining committee met this week with their counterparts from the B.C. Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA). This was our 6th bargaining session towards a new Provincial Framework Agreement.
The session was productive, with meaningful discussions on several of our key issues, including childcare. The bargaining committee reiterated the benefits of public schools providing childcare programs staffed by our members. It would help families across the province in dire need of childcare and would mean additional hours could be available to EAs, ECEs and other school support workers.
We also continued discussions on monetary issues. While we are making progress, it is clear to the bargaining committee that there is still work to be done. We remain firm that B.C. school support workers need and deserve fair wages and adequate resources to properly support students in a healthy and safe learning environment.
We are working with BCPSEA to schedule more bargaining sessions. As you may have heard, some provincial public sector unions have recently reached agreements. While we are encouraged by these agreements, we know that the collective bargaining process is not one-size-fits-all. Your bargaining committee is committed to getting the best deal possible to address our priorities and we are prepared to put in more time and work to get there.
We want to thank you all for your ongoing support and engagement—it is critical to our collective success. Please make sure your local has your personal email so we can keep you updated to new developments.
You can also find updates at bcschools.cupe.ca, on Facebook @cupek12bc, and directly from your local.