News

In its efforts to address the province-wide shortage of affordable and accessible child care, the provincial government today announced a $2/hour increase to the wage enhancement for private sector early childhood educators (ECE). This increase will bring the private-sector ECE wage enhancement up to $6/hour effective December 1, 2023. The public-sector ECE wage enhancement will remain at $4/hour.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care has told CUPE this subsidy is needed in part because private sector ECE’s make significantly less than those working in the public child care system.

All child care workers in B.C. of course deserve a fair living wage, health benefits and retirement security – public or private sector. But CUPE well knows that the best way to achieve this for workers is with strong properly funded public child care.

Thanks to the work of CUPE members through the CUPE BC public child care campaign, B.C. has recently made great strides in public child care that have benefited families and CUPE members across the province.

CUPE advocacy has been crucial to the launch of 24 seamless child care pilot projects across B.C. The Delta School District’s pilot project, staffed by members of CUPE 1091, was so successful it was expanded to provide even more child care spots in Delta schools.

CUPE’s advocacy was pivotal to the opening of the Nakusp Early Learning Childcare Centre – a new public child care centre staffed by School District 10 workers – members of CUPE 2450. This centre, opened in June 2023, now offers over 80 child care spots all staffed by CUPE members.

And this September, thanks to the efforts of CUPE 723 and the support of the CUPE BC child care campaign, Campbell River SD 72 launched a before- and after-school care program and is building six new public child care centres, providing hundreds of new child care spots staffed by CUPE 723 education assistants – many of whom are now working full-time hours with before- and after-school work.

These are just a few of our most recent successes. We know more successes are possible.

CUPE will continue to advocate for more public child care spaces for B.C. families, and to rise up more B.C. child care workers through a strong publicly funded child care system.

Please take a moment to visit seamlesschildcarenow.ca and send this message to your MLA calling for more public child care.

On Wednesday, September 20th right-wing groups across the country are organizing protests to spread disinformation about 2SLGBTQI+ people and resist trans-inclusive policies in schools.

There will be counter protests in many cities across our region. The hateful protest is called #1MillionMarch4Children. Over 80 locations have been announced as participating. You can find a list of events on the right-wing website, Blueprint for Canada.

The K-12 Presidents Council urges you to take action:

• Show up! The BC Labour Against Transphobia Flying Squads list has set up a sign-up form for counter-protesters to connect with each other – _there is safety in numbers so please join if you can and share through your trusted networks (not social media): https://forms.gle/9h6mAcK62YLQjeh96
• Issue a statement condemning this hate in our communities
• CUPE has supported campaigns and events by Momentum, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, and the Enchante Network. You can add your voice to Momentum’s federal campaign to #Act4QueerSafety here
• Try to get Poilievre to reject the Conservative’s anti-trans policies here.
• You can contact your municipal representative through CCGSD to pass 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive policies here.

For 2SLGBTQIA+ community members who are impacted by the ongoing rise in hate speech and rallies and need support, here are some resources available to you:

Trans Care BC

Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre

Transgender Map

2 Spirits of BC

Gender Generations Project

View PDF here.

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.