On behalf of the K-12 Presidents Council, I would like to welcome our new K-12 Coordinators, Jeanne Marr and Chris Losito.  Both Chris and Jeanne have been coordinators with other sectors before coming to K-12.

Jeanne, a long-time activist, was a high school clerical and was also a K-12 Pension Benefits administrator. Jeanne will support reps and locals in Metro, Fraser Valley and the North.

Chris will support Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Kootenays. Chris worked as an Environmental Health Officer and was an activist, chief shop steward, and executive member with CUPE 15 for six years. Chris worked in K-12 as a national rep in the Trail office for two years. We look forward to working with Jeanne and Chris.

Thank you, Tracey!

I also want to give a big shout-out to Tracey Mathieson, who served as K-12 Coordinator for the past six years. I’m sure all members of the Council join me in thanking Tracey for her dedication, knowledge, professionalism, availability and strong work ethic. Tracey did an enormous amount of work on behalf of K-12 members and the Presidents Council both during bargaining and throughout this pandemic. We wish her all the best in her new role as Library Coordinator.

Ongoing Committee work

Ongoing work on provincial committees continues. We hope to have direct access to the PHO on the Provincial Steering Committee soon. This will help us get answers and raise concerns that have been brought to our attention by CUPE members in K-12 about changing guidelines. We’re all in this together, as we work to keep staff and students safe in B.C. schools.

In solidarity and safety,

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

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NEW WESTMINSTER—After several years of lobbying SD 40, CUPE 409 is pleased that the district adopted_­­­­ the Living Wage policy on November 24. 

“This is great news,” said CUPE 409 President Marcel Marsolais. “We want to make sure that people are paid appropriately. This is another example of unions benefitting all workers.”

Marsolais praised CUPE 409 Labour Management representatives and members for endorsing the New Westminster and District Labour Council living wage initiative.

“Thanks also to our CUPE Labour-endorsed board of education trustees, for supporting a living wage policy in New West schools,” said Marsolais.

­­Living wage employers raise the bar for wages beyond minimum wage. The living wage initiative is supported by unions to ensure that workers who provide contracted services funded with public sector funds are paid a living wage. The current living wage rate for Metro Vancouver is $19.50 per hour, assuming the employer provides no benefits.   

The SD40 living wage policy will be implemented in April 2021. SD40 is the first school district in B.C. to adopt the Living Wage policy. The City of New Westminster became a “Living Wage Employer” in January 2011, a Canadian first.

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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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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