Welcome to the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council site
The K-12 Presidents’ Council represents 57 CUPE locals in school districts across British Columbia.
CUPE represents more than 30,000 education workers including: education assistants, school secretaries, custodians/caretakers, Indigenous support workers, IT workers, Strong Start facilitators, trades and maintenance workers, and bus drivers.
We strive to protect quality public education for all.
Presidents of BC K-12 school support locals are endorsing the new Provincial Framework Agreement reached earlier this week. The BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) is also endorsing the agreement for inclusion in local collective agreements. The agreement provides locals with the ability to respond to their membership’s needs at the local level. Some key highlights include:
The agreement has a 4-year term in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029. It includes a general wage increase of 3% in each year, retroactive to July 1, 2025.
Labour market adjustments
The agreement allocates $4.1 million for locals and school districts to jointly apply for labour market adjustments for positions facing recruitment and retention challenges.
Local bargaining
Local bargaining tables will have $15.9 million available to negotiate ongoing service and learning improvements that have a direct or supporting connection to student learning. This can include, but is not limited to, increased hours, increased full-time employees, and professional development. This funding will be allocated to local tables based on full-time enrolled students in the districts, with a minimum amount allocated for small districts.
Public Education Benefits Trust
Regular annual funding to the Trust will continue, with an additional $13,995,000 in new annual funding to ensure continuing long-term disability benefits.
Extended benefits
New funds are allocated for improving the Standardized Extended Benefits Plan.
Provincial Classification Support System
During the term of the agreement, the K-12 Presidents Council and BCPSEA agree to finalize the Provincial Classification Support System. This replaces the Provincial Joint Job Evaluation Plan. Previously negotiated funds will be allocated to locals and districts to support existing or new job evaluation plans.
Addressing violence in the workplace
There are several new provisions addressing violence experienced by school support workers in the workplace. These provisions require employers to:
Contracting out
There is a new provision requiring school districts to provide information to locals on the contracting out of work.
Next steps
Local bargaining can now begin in all districts. Local collective agreements must be ratified by January 15, 2027.
Once a local tentative agreement is reached, the local’s membership will have the opportunity to vote on ratification of the agreement, including the Provincial Framework Agreement as an appendix to that local’s tentative agreement.
If you have questions about the Provincial Framework Agreement or local bargaining, please contact your local.
CLICK HERE for the complete 2025-2029 Provincial Framework Agreement
Your K-12 provincial bargaining committee is pleased to announce we have reached a tentative provincial framework agreement with the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).
“This was a tough round of bargaining, but our committee worked hard and was determined to get a fair deal for our members that was in line with other provincial public sector agreements,” says Paul Simpson, president of the K-12 Presidents Council. “This framework agreement recognizes the vital role school support workers play every day in our public schools and represents a step-forward in strengthening this province’s public education system for all students.”
Further details on the tentative framework agreement will be released when presented to the K-12 Presidents Council for endorsement next week. When endorsed, the 4-year provincial framework agreement (PFA) will then be incorporated into the local collective agreements negotiated by school support locals and their respective school districts. Members will ratify provisions of the framework as part of their local collective agreement.
This tentative agreement would not be possible without your engagement, support, and patience. The bargaining committee is confident this framework is a solid foundation for locals to address their own priorities at local table bargaining with their respective school districts. Provincial bargaining is a collective effort of members, activists, leaders and staff. Our solidarity leads to success at our local bargaining tables.
Your bargaining committee met with the employer this week, March 25-26. Over two very long days, we had productive discussions with the BC Public Schools Employers Association (BCPSEA). But we still have work to do on some of our key priorities, and it has been challenging to reach a consensus at the table.
As you know, many of the issues we prioritized are very complex. We are spending a significant amount of time and effort in our deliberations as a committee. Our membership has an extensive array of diverse jobs and classifications in 59 districts. So, we are being diligent to ensure our proposals are not only fair, but fair for everyone throughout our sector.
We are going back to the table shortly, meeting with BCPSEA April 9-10. Your bargaining committee remains optimistic that we are coming closer to a tentative framework agreement. We are strongly united and committed to getting the best deal we can and are prepared to put in the time and work to get it right.
We want to thank all members for their patience during this very long and tough round of bargaining.
Thank you for your on-going engagement, support and solidarity. We will update you shortly after the April session, or if any there are any new developments. Please ensure your contact information is up to date with your local and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Your K-12 provincial bargaining committee will be returning to the bargaining table March 25 and 26 with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA). We have also scheduled another session for April 9 and 10 if needed.
As we reported in our last update, we believe we are on the path to our ultimate goal- a fair tentative agreement. With members showing we are prepared to collectively do whatever it takes, pressuring BCPSEA to table a revised monetary offer at our last session, we are optimistic a deal is coming.
But there is still work ahead of us. Several issues addressing our key bargaining priorities still need to be resolved. Your bargaining committee is fully prepared going into this session with everything we need to deliver results for all members.
We know, with the continued support of members across the province, we are sending the province and BCSPEA a clear message: we deserve better and the students and families we support deserve better. We will get a deal that acknowledges the crucial role we play in public schools and addresses the key priorities members asked us to take to the table.
We are aware our friends and colleagues in other unions have achieved gains and assure you that through our own unique provincial bargaining process we on the same path.
We will update you on our progress as quickly as we can. Please watch out for updates to your personal emails from your local, on our website bcschools.cupe.ca and our Facebook @CUPEK12BC.
Your bargaining committee met with the employer today for a pivotal meeting towards K-12 school support workers getting the deal we deserve.
We are pleased to report that the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) committee tabled a revised monetary offer. There is still considerable work to be done to get a provincial framework agreement, but your bargaining committee believes there is a path towards a fair deal. We are working with the employer on securing more dates to get back to the table. Members will be updated as soon as the next session is scheduled.
While the bargaining committee is optimistic, we are not at the finish line yet. It is very clear that the employer and the provincial government have seen that school support workers are united and we are all ready to do what it takes to get a fair deal. So, until we have that deal, we will keep the pressure on.
It has proven to be a long and tough round of bargaining, but the encouragement and support of members has been a great source of energy and inspiration for the bargaining committee.
Together we will get our deal.
