View message from CUPE BC President, Paul Faoro

Education Minister Rob Fleming’s funding announcement on Thursday is good news for our members and for a safe restart in B.C. schools.

If you missed the announcement, you can watch it on the B.C. government YouTube channel here. The announcement starts at minute 6:00.

The federal funding of $242.4 million builds on provincial funding of $45.6 million to support a safe restart for B.C.’s schools. Funding will allow schools to expand health and safety measures, purchase more personal protective equipment (PPE) and increase capacity for remote learning.

The Ministry release says that the funding will support school districts to hire and train more teachers and support staff for remote learning; purchase additional software licences, electronic course materials and textbooks; purchase computers or tablets; and create Wi-Fi hubs and internet access in remote and Indigenous communities.

The release highlights some areas where funding can be spent including learning resources and supports, health and safety, transportation, as well as before and after school care. Answering a question, Minister Fleming said that flexibility of funding allowed for hiring additional support staff, including custodians and attendants on buses.

Districts will determine where funds are allocated. This chart shows the amount of federal funding allocated to each district in the last column of Table A: SUMMARY OF GRANTS TO DATE 2020/2021.

Have a safe and happy Labour Day!

In solidarity and safety,

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

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CUPE K-12 site health and safety committees do not fall under the jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC. The Workers Compensation Board and the Workers Compensation Act only recognize the joint health and safety committee, not the central /district joint safety committee or CUPE site/local health and safety committees. CUPE K-12 site health and safety committees identify problems and bring them to their local’s joint health and safety committee to address.

1. What does a site health and safety committee do?

Site safety committee members are the eyes and ears of safety for their specific site. Get to know who your CUPE site contact is. They know their workplace and gather information to provide to their local’s joint health and safety committee. Site safety committee members are crucial during the pandemic to give feedback if the district safety plan and site safety plans need to be modified as we move through the fall and winter. If they see anything unsafe at work, they need to bring it to their local’s joint health and safety committee.

2. How does the site committee know what safety guidelines are in place?

Site committee members need to be familiar with the Provincial COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings as well as the district safety plan and any site-specific guidelines in place at their schools. All district safety plans have been approved and are on the district’s individual website. The provincial guidelines document is regularly updated and can be found here.

3. What are the responsibilities of committee members?

Site committee members note issues that are unsafe. They are sometimes a point of contact for members working at the site who notice safety issues that need to be addressed. Get to know who your Committee members should refer to the Provincial COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings and safety plan for their district, especially during the pandemic. They sometimes also assist their local joint health and safety committee and the employer with member safety.

4. How does a site health and safety committee work with the district?

CUPE K-12 site health and safety committees report concerns or issues in the school directly to the local’s joint health and safety committee. The joint committee then raises it with the district. The local’s joint health and safety committee, in consultation with the local, may ask the site committee to assist in other ways.

5. My school doesn’t have a site health and safety committee. How do we get one?

Contact your local immediately, as these committees are crucial as our members return to work at schools.

6. Is the site health and safety committee a joint committee that includes the union and management?

Typically, site committees include one or more representatives from each union or association and the site administrator.

7. What should our site safety committee do when we see safety guidelines aren’t being followed?

It is important to remember that the site committee is in addition to the required local joint health and safety committee. The site committee should refer their issues and concerns to the local’s joint health and safety committee which deals with issues arising throughout the district. The joint health and safety committee should try to resolve the issues and concerns, including by making formal and informal recommendations as part of the committee’s mandate. Where this is not successful, the joint health and safety committee may contact WorkSafeBC for assistance. In addition, workers always have the right to refuse unsafe work under Section 3.12 of the OHS Regulations.

Please check out the WorkSafeBC guidelines for schools returning to operation.

Please note that we have added an additional question (#36) under the FAQ category of health and safety as we were still getting many questions from members on masks and face shields.

36.  Will staff have access to masks and face shields?

As we get ready for the September 8 return to schools, it seems as though this summer has flown by.

Please ensure that both your site health and safety committee and your joint health and safety committee have a copy of your district’s safety plan.

We’ll continue to provide updates as we get new information.

In solidarity and safety,

Warren Williams
K-12 Presidents Council President

Health and safety

32. What are the different types of health and safety committees?

33. Will clerical get plexiglass dividers?

34. How does air circulation affect COVID-19?

Other

35. What personal items can I bring to work?

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