Support Staff Job Evaluation Committee Bulletin #5

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Background From Provincial Framework Agreements:

BCPSEA and the K-12 Support Staff Unions first agreed to establish a Provincial Job Evaluation Plan, possibly including a regional or local approach, as part of the 2014-2019 Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA).  The job evaluation tool used is based upon the CUPE gender neutral job evaluation plan with modifications to fit the needs of the K-12 sector.  The Provincial Job Evaluation Steering Committee was established in 2015 and seven (7) districts with CUPE locals piloted the plan throughout 2018 and 2019.  Ten (10) additional districts, including two (2) with locals other than CUPE, have been identified for a second pilot of the plan.

The 2019-2022 PFA confirmed that the work of the Provincial Job Evaluation Steering Committee would continue as follows:

  • Review the results of the phase 1 pilot and address any anomalies identified.
  • Expand the pilot to accommodate ten (10) additional districts/locals including at least two (2) districts with locals other than CUPE to confirm the validity of the tool and the benchmarks.
  • Rate the provincial benchmarks and create a provincial job hierarchy.
  • Utilize the provincial job hierarchy to evaluate local district hierarchies.
  • Identify training requirements to support implementation of the provincial job evaluation plan.

The 2019-2022 PFA recognizes that the provincial job evaluation process is potentially lengthy and onerous and provides the opportunity for the engagement of additional job evaluation consultants to assist with job evaluation work.  It also recognizes the established management right of employers to determine local job requirements and job descriptions.  The 2019-2022 PFA contemplates the disbursement of available JE funds commencing January 2, 2020 or as mutually agreed.

Phase 1 Pilot:

As previously indicated, the seven (7) phase 1 pilot districts are:

School District 06 (Rocky Mountain)/CUPE Local 440

School District 28 (Quesnel)/CUPE Local 4990

School District 36 (Surrey)/CUPE Local 728

School District 42 (Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows)/CUPE Local 703

School District 53 (Okanagan Similkameen)/CUPE Local 523

School District 63 (Saanich)/CUPE Local 441

School District 68 (Nanaimo Ladysmith)/CUPE Local 606

 

Throughout 2018 and 2019, the joint job evaluation committees in the phase 1 pilot districts provided feedback to the job evaluation consultants on the draft provincial benchmarks and ratings and completed preliminary matches for each district job to the provincial benchmarks.  They also provided feedback on the pilot 1 process through completion of a questionnaire.

Phase 2 Pilot:

The Steering Committee received a large number of expressions of interest from school districts and locals for participation in the phase 2 pilot.  A number of factors were used by the Steering Committee in the selection process including:  geographic location; district size and other demographic considerations; status of existing job evaluation process and job descriptions.  Based on the provisions of the PFA, only ten (10) districts could be selected, two (2) of whom had to be non-CUPE locals.  The final selection of the pilot districts was conducted by the Steering Committee.  Unfortunately, not all districts and locals that expressed interest could be selected.

The districts and locals that were selected for the phase 2 pilot are:

  • School District 22 (Vernon)/CUPE 5523
  • School District 33 (Chilliwack)/CUPE 411
  • School District 45 (West Vancouver)/WVMEA
  • School District 60 (Peace River North)/CUPE 4653
  • School District 69 (Qualicum)/CUPE 3570
  • School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson)/CUPE 3500
  • School District 75 (Mission)/CUPE 593
  • School District 83 (North Okanagan Shuswap)/CUPE 523
  • School District 58 (Nicola Similkameen)/CUPE 847
  • School District 78 (Fraser Cascades)/CMAW 2434

The joint job evaluation committees in the phase 2 pilot districts are scheduled for training in early February and will be asked to complete a number of job evaluation tasks to contribute to the work of Steering Committee.

Next Steps:

Following receipt of data from pilot 2, the Steering Committee will finalize the provincial benchmarks and ratings and will address final modifications to the job evaluation plan, such as reviewing job matches identified by the pilot districts, rating jobs not matched and determining point weighting. After these steps are complete, the Steering Committee will determine a process for inclusion of remaining districts and locals in the province.

Pay Adjustment Process:

The 2019-2022 Provincial Framework Agreement provided a commitment that “The disbursement of available JE funds shall commence by January 2, 2020 or as mutually agreed.”  The Steering Committee acknowledges that implementation of the job evaluation plan will be retroactive to January 2, 2020 within the funding provided under the PFA.

Provincial Job Evaluation Steering Committee Members:

Chris Losito – CUPE Staff

Jane Massy – CUPE, Local 947

Paul Simpson – CUPE, Local 379

Warren Williams – CUPE 15 & President of K-12 Presidents’ Council

Ranjit Bharaj – BCPSEA

Maureen Carradice – BCPSEA

Lynda Minnabarriet – School District 74 (Gold Trail)

Royce Norum – School District 57 (Prince George)

Advisors:

Peter Coombes – CUPE Staff Advisor

Harpinder Sandhu – CUPE Staff Advisor

Jackie Bonsal – BCPSEA Staff Advisor

Joe Strain – BCPSEA Advisor

Should you have any questions, please contact Chris Losito (CUPE) at closito@cupe.ca or Maureen Carradice (BCPSEA) at maureenc@bcpsea.bc.ca.

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Bulletin 51 – COVID one year later

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Today marks the one-year anniversary of Canada’s first COVID-19 case. This is a difficult milestone for us all, but it is also an important moment to recognize the critical work you continue to provide during an extraordinary crisis.

Thank you for the meaningful work you do every day—especially right now. For all British Columbians, this pandemic has highlighted just how much they depend on the services you provide. Our families, friends, the economy and systems all benefit from your dedication and professionalism. The work you do should never be taken for granted.

All members, working in public schools from early years to Grade 12, are under significant stress as we cope with constantly shifting circumstances for our families and communities during this crisis. For more information on mental health resources please check out Bulletin 44.

There is reason for optimism as vaccine rollout plans have been announced. This doesn’t change the fears and pandemic fatigue you continue to face, so if there is anything we can focus on to support you, please let us know.

To assist you further during this difficult period, we want to provide the most accurate and up to date information relevant to your work in the sector. Please visit our website for information about COVID-19, including frequently asked questions and other resources. If you prefer to receive updates via social media, please follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cupek12bc.

We wish you continued safety as we all double up efforts to follow guidelines and stay safe with COVID variants now on the scene.

In solidarity,

Jeanne Marr and Chris Losito
K-12 Coordinators – BC Region

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Bulletin #50 – Government of B.C. rolls out vaccine plan

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The Province’s immunization plan, announced today,  applies an age-based approach. Phase 1 and Phase 2 focus on protecting those most susceptible to severe illness and death from COVID-19.  Phase 3 and Phase 4 focus on the general population.

Adults older than age 60 have at least 5 times increased odds of hospitalization and mortality, with those over 80 carrying double that risk.

K-12 support staff likely included in Phase 3

CUPE continues to advocate strongly that support staff be included in prioritized groups who are now included in the later stages of Phase 3.

According to a government news release, as additional vaccines become available, frontline essential workers or those who work in specific workplaces may also be able to start receiving vaccines later in Phase 3. British Columbians aged 69–16 who are deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable, will be eligible for early immunization in Phase 3.

The plan calls for every eligible British Columbian to receive a vaccine between April and the end of September – a total of 7.4 million doses (allowing for 2 doses per person). The timing of each phase may begin sooner than scheduled.

This plan is the largest in B.C.’s history. Health authorities – in partnership with communities, businesses, and municipalities – will set up clinics in 172 B.C. communities.

Vaccine Pre-registration

Members will be able to pre-register for the vaccine with their mobile devices, computers or by phone. Details will be released by the end of February.

The steering committee has been assured that ample vaccine is available and we can expect to have a protected adult population by September 2021. Both the Minister and BCCDC have assured us that we can and should plan for a full return to school in September with a fully-protected adult population.

 

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Bulletin #49 – Keeping safe in the pandemic

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Throughout the pandemic, the BCCDC and Provincial Health Officer have reiterated that transmission rates of COVID-19 in schools is low. Two recent research papers – from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools at McMaster University — appear to support this position, as does data released by Vancouver Coastal Health for the first half of the 2020/21 school year.

While this news is welcome and can provide some peace of mind, the fear and anxiety of exposure to COVID-19 and bringing the virus home to your families is real and understandable. The best way to keep K-12 members, their families, students, parents and co-workers safe is to:

  1. Enforce robust COVID safety plans, including: maintaining physical distancing; wearing a mask if unable to physically distance; frequently washing hands; and staying home if not feeling well.
  2. Become active participants in your workplace and/or regional Joint Health and Safety Committee(s),
  3. Push for school districts to support effective isolation and quarantine, by providing paid general leave during these periods, and
  4. Advocate for improved transparency and timelines of exposure reporting.

The K-12 Presidents Council, CUPE K-12 locals, CUPE National and CUPE BC continue to take these priorities on, and will continue to regularly report out to members as new information becomes available.

Steering Committee works with BCCDC to revise guidelines

The BCCDC will be issuing revised guidance for the K-12 sector over the next couple of weeks. These revisions are not meant to be changes to protocol, but instead are meant to provide specific and additional clarity.

We know that the current safety measures, when used together, keep schools as safe as possible.

Guidance has been intentionally broad to allow each district to specifically apply it. However, we know that this has not been the case in many districts and the lack of detailed guidance creates deficiencies in the safety plans.

The Steering Committee has been working closely with BCCDC to adapt this guidance to be much more specific and address more areas of concern.

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Bulletin #48 – STOP contracting out

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Important information about EA hours and early care and learning

CUPE National and CUPE BC have long supported the creation of a universal system of affordable child care. Members and staff have campaigned for this particularly hard in the last two years. We also bargained language to ensure that CUPE locals and members will have an opportunity to work collaboratively with school districts to create a broader education system. That language is under threat.

The re-election of the BC NDP to a majority government has given us a historic opportunity to create a universal system of affordable child care.

MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE

The only way we can achieve universal affordable child care is by delivering it as a high-quality, public service. We know that the most effective and efficient way to create a truly universal system – accessible to everyone who needs it – is by building out the existing K-12 public education system to include early care and learning.

High quality affordable child care in schools — and in every neighbourhood in the province – would be life-changing for families.

UPHOLDING OUR CONTRACT RIGHTS

In our last round of negotiations with BCPSEA we specifically bargained language in the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) that committed school districts to work collaboratively with CUPE locals to explore opportunities to better transition children from early care and learning to kindergarten. This was meant to bring child care into our schools and to create opportunity for our existing membership, particularly education assistants, to access more full-time hours.

Despite our efforts, we have seen a troubling trend emerge. Child care is being contracted out in many school districts, without any dialogue or opportunity for collaboration with CUPE locals. This is a direct violation of the PFA and we must put a stop to it. We cannot allow our work to be contracted out. We cannot remain silent while our contract is ignored.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION

This issue is very serious. We can turn this trend around by taking action in our individual districts. CUPE staff are prepared to support you in this effort. Please get in touch with your servicing rep who will work with your local and district on this.

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