Bulletin #40 – A warm welcome to Minister of Education Jennifer Whiteside

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We warmly welcome Minister Whiteside and look forward to working with her to support and expand the critical work CUPE members provide.

As CUPE members throughout B.C. continue to go above and beyond to keep schools open during this pandemic, we are now working with a majority government committed to protecting and enhancing public services.

In the mandate letter to Minister Whiteside, Premier Horgan has asked the ministry to continue their foundational principles to put people first; equity and anti-racism; achieve B.C.’s climate goals; and support a strong and stable economy that works for everyone.

Specific to K-12, the letter also calls for progress to be made in public education. The mandate lists 11 items that include the following:

  • safety guidelines to ensure quality public education continues during and after the pandemic
  • prioritizing universal access to before- and after-school care on school grounds
  • more mental health supports for students and staff

The K-12 Presidents Council and CUPE will continue to work with the ministry and the employer association on all priorities of our K-12 members including:

  1. Reinforcing members’ health
    and safety
  2. Establishing province-wide Job Evaluation
  3. More consistency and hours for EAs
  4. Permanent day-time custodians

On behalf of our 30,000 members who support K-12 across B.C., the K-12 Presidents Council warmly welcomes Minister of Education Jennifer Whiteside.

Premier John Horgan appointed former HEU secretary-business manager and chief spokesperson Jennifer Whiteside as Minister of Education yesterday.

Jennifer has a strong record of defending workers’ rights and championing social justice issues at all levels. She replaces Minister Rob Fleming who has moved to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

I would like to thank outgoing Minister Fleming for his respect and recognition of the important services CUPE members provide, and for his work on behalf of support staff, students and parents in the midst of this challenging pandemic.

We look forward to working together with Minister Whiteside as we continue our work on member safety, continuation of pay during school closures, increased hours for EAs, maintaining day-time custodians, and the many other issues in K-12.

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

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Bulletin #39 – CUPE Roles and EAs

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We have been getting questions from members about an EA Standards of Practice Working Group Survey. This is not a CUPE working group, nor has CUPE endorsed the work of this working group. CUPE has had no part in this survey.

This bulletin explains the roles that CUPE fulfils for members in K-12, and specifically what that means for EAs.

CUPE National Reps, Specialist Reps and Sector Co-ordinators support locals in bargaining and enforcing collective agreements.

CUPE continues to make gains for Education Assistants

Provincial Agreement

Once the K-12 Presidents Council ratifies the provincial framework agreement (PFA), it forms part of local agreements that K-12 locals negotiate with their respective school boards.

All K-12 members, including Education Assistants, receive 2 percent annual wage and benefit increases. These will continue until the collective agreement expires in 2022.

The PFA also includes a process to help reduce workplace violence—a priority for EAs and for CUPE. Targeted funding specific to EAs was negotiated and a Provincial Joint Job
Evaluation Project is underway. This is one step toward getting consistency of job descriptions and compensation.

Democracy in action

CUPE takes direction from members at convention; through member surveys; from ongoing communication with CUPE’s autonomous K-12 locals; and through the Presidents Council.

A resolution passed at convention called for CUPE BC to lobby the provincial government to implement a system of recognized credentials and qualifications to regulate training for EAs.

The K-12 Presidents Council, CUPE BC and CUPE National are continuing this work through discussions with government and our presence on negotiated provincial committees.

CUPE BC is currently advocating for the creation of more spaces to train EAs in public post-secondary institutions.

Issues and Advocacy

Because standards of practice and training vary widely between districts—creating unfair differences in qualifications for similar employment and barriers for members to transfer employment to another district— over 86 per cent of EAs would like to see training standardized in their field.

EAs deserve to have whole jobs. The K-12 Presidents Council and CUPE have consistently lobbied and negotiated with government and the employers to increase funding to provide EAs with full-time hours.

As the number of children who need enhanced support has increased in schools, CUPE BC has lobbied for more direct support to those students.

In addition to bargaining support and ensuring contracts are followed, CUPE advocates, lobbies and recommends policy changes. CUPE has always championed inclusive education.

We will update you about our ongoing work through bulletins at bcschools.cupe.ca and via social media @cupek12bc on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CUPE ROLES

K-12 Presidents Council

The K-12 Presidents Council represents more than 30,000 K-12 support workers in B.C. The Council’s elected bargaining committee negotiates a provincial framework agreement with BCPSEA that covers common issues and wage increases.

CUPE BC

CUPE BC acts as a political voice for CUPE locals. The Division has consistently and strongly advocated for additional K-12 funding for decades, and has specifically called for improvements for EAs including standardized training and increased hours of work. CUPE BC does not have a seat on the K-12 Presidents Council and does not bargain or negotiate.

CUPE National

CUPE National and its chartered locals represent K-12 support workers including Education Assistants, School Secretaries, Custodians, Indigenous Support Workers, IT Workers, Trades and Maintenance Workers, Bus Drivers, and Strong Start Facilitators. The National provides bargaining support to locals and helps ensure contracts are followed.

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Bulletin #38 – New PHO orders

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“We are in our second surge and it’s proving to be a challenge…We need to relieve the stress on our health care system right now…We need to keep our essential activities and services open and operating safely. We need to keep our schools open and operating safely.”

— PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry

New orders put in place

B.C. is now experiencing a surge in the pandemic with increased community transmission, outbreaks, and effects on our health care system in every health authority. PHO Dr. Bonnie
Henry has now applied the regional orders to Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health province-wide.

New expanded orders have been put in place, effective until midnight December 7 to ensure that we get through one to two incubation periods. The PHO will regularly review progress and wants to see a slowing down of transmission.

Reduced social activities in homes and outside

The orders call for no social gatherings in homes other than with those who live there and to reduce social interactions of any size outside of our homes. Those who live alone can spend time with one or two people if they regularly spend time with them. All indoor and outdoor events are not allowed to take place until further notice.

Masks now mandatory for all indoor public and retail settings, but not in schools

The PHO has made clear that wearing masks is one of the ways we can prevent transmissions, along with practicing physical distancing, washing our hands and staying away from others if not feeling well. The PHO has asked the Minister of Public Safety to issue a requirement to wear masks for all indoor public and retail spaces for staff and customers, except when eating or drinking.

This requirement does not apply to anyone who is unable to put on or take off a mask on their own, to children under the age of two, or to schools. Schools are not considered open public spaces as members of the public cannot just walk into a school. We have layers of protection in schools as defined by safety plans.

The existing protocols and guidelines in the COVID-19 Operational Guidelines and the Provincial COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings remain in effect.

We recognize that our members face many challenges in the face of this continuing pandemic. Dr. Bonnie Henry has also recognized those working in schools for their contribution to keeping schools open—and has underscored how important this is for children. CUPE is committed to supporting safe workplaces for our members and we follow the guidelines set by the PHO.  We continue to advocate for K-12 members and expect to have opportunities to meet with public health in the future.

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Bulletin #37 – Two public schools close due to COVID-19

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Although infection rates remain significantly lower in schools than in the community, CUPE members in Locals 728 (Surrey) and 1091 (Delta) have recently been affected by COVID-19. In Surrey, SD 36 closed Cambridge Elementary until November 30 as advised by Fraser Health. In Delta, Jarvis Elementary will also be closed for two weeks effective November 16.

K-12 locals across the province are dealing with self-isolation with many of our members being told to self-isolate across several districts. Details about school exposures and clusters can be found on each health region’s website. (Please see Bulletin 33 for links.)

Parents, students and the public depend on CUPE members supporting students in schools throughout B.C.

The position of the K-12 Presidents Council has always been that safety in schools—for everyone—is paramount.

Whether schools close by choice or are ordered to close, the K-12 Presidents Council strongly advocates that continuity of wages and benefits must not be interrupted. All locals should continue to work with their districts to ensure that members do not have to use any of their accrued banks because they were directed to self-isolate.

We are working hard to support locals during school closures. British Columbians need all support staff available, healthy and able to continue to support students.

Your K-12 Presidents Council and CUPE continue to focus on:

  • Keeping members, students and everyone in the K-12 community safe
  • Helping locals navigate through this pandemic
  • Continuing to work with government and all stakeholders

We will continue to follow the science and guidance of the Provincial Health Officer and the BCCDC.

In safety and solidarity,

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

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Bulletin # 36 – PHO AND MASKS

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Being called upon to adjust to new changes as COVID continues, can be challenging. But if we all do our part and follow the PHO orders, hopefully we will flatten the curve in our communities and in our schools.

In solidarity and safety,

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

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PHO issues new orders for Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health Regions

On November 7, 2020, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an order to limit social interactions in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley to those who live in the same household for the next two weeks.

The order is aimed at reducing social interactions so that schools and workplaces can remain open. Henry says that it is incredibly important that we slow the virus.

Henry said that the foundational layers of protection and the minimal but important province-wide orders have not changed. Basic measures that all individuals need to take to prevent transmission of this virus are: cleaning our hands regularly; making sure we cover our cough and not touch our face; keeping our safe distance, particularly from people we don’t know when we’re in public spaces; and, wearing a mask when we cannot maintain physical distancing, particularly in indoor locations.

School districts do not need to change their health and safety procedures in response to this order and should continue to follow the existing protocols and guidelines in the COVID-19 Operational Guidelines and the Provincial COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings. The BCCDC has also set up a new epidemiology dashboard that will be updated on Tuesdays and Fridays. The information will show cases as well as number of tests in each given location.

The PHO also said that the outbreak at École de l’Anse-au-sable in Kelowna has been declared over and students and staff are back in class.

Watch the Nov. 7 update here, starting at 5:41.

You can watch the Nov. 9 update here starting at 4:54.

 

MORE ON MASKS

As science and medical evidence comes in with respect to this pandemic, things change frequently. The following information on masks is from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Here you’ll find information about proper material, structure and fit; children and masks; use and storage; safety considerations, etc.

How well a mask or face covering works depends on the materials used, how the mask is made, and most importantly, how well it fits.

A mask or face covering can be homemade or purchased, and should be made of at least three layers. Two layers should be tightly woven material fabric, such as cotton or linen and the third (middle) layer should be a filter-type fabric.

The mask should:

  • be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose, mouth and chin without gaping
  • allow for easy breathing
  • fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops
  • l be comfortable and not require frequent adjustments
  • be changed as soon as possible if damp or dirty
  • maintain its shape after washing and drying

Filters add an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 by trapping small infectious particles.

Consider wearing a mask that includes a filter or filter material as one of its layers.

Reusable masks with a non-woven filter layer should be washed daily, and can be washed multiple times.

Disposable filters should be changed daily or as directed by the manufacturer.