SURREY — CUPE 4227, representing more than 400 Francophone K-12 support workers province-wide at Conseil scolaire francophone (SD93), reached a tentative agreement on June 27 following 6 bargaining sessions that started in May.

“Although we were not able to improve in all of the areas our members identified as important to them, we were pleased that we made gains for some of our precarious workers in this round of bargaining,” said CUPE 4227 President Francine Brisson.

According to Brisson bargaining was very respectful and amicable, but not without challenges.

“We would have been able to accomplish more for our members if funds available for local bargaining had been less restrictive,” added Brisson.

The tentative agreement also incorporates the provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September. The current K-12 agreement expired on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school district Boards of Trustees, the collective agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in early July.

CUPE 4227 members, who provide a wide variety of services in French-language schools throughout B.C., include Education Assistants, Youth Care Workers, Indigenous Support Workers, Clerical, IT, Strong Start workers, Administrative Support, and support workers for new immigrant families. They support 6,000 K-12 students in 41 francophone schools throughout B.C.

SURREY — Le 27 juin, la section locale 4227 du SCFP, qui représente plus de 400 membres du personnel de soutien au Conseil scolaire francophone (DS93) de la Colombie-Britannique, a conclu une entente de principe, à la suite de six séances de négociation qui ont débuté en mai.

« Bien que nous n’ayons pas réussi à faire des progrès dans tous les champs jugés prioritaires par nos membres, nous sommes ravis d’avoir décroché des gains pour certains de nos travailleurs précaires », explique la présidente du SCFP 4227, Francine Brisson.

Elle estime que les négociations se sont déroulées dans le respect et sur un ton amical, mais non sans difficultés : « Nous aurions pu faire mieux pour nos membres si les fonds disponibles pour la négociation locale avaient été moins restrictifs. »

L’entente de principe inclut aussi l’accord-cadre provincial approuvé par le Conseil des Présidents des sections locales scolaires en septembre. L’accord actuel arrive à échéance le 30 juin 2019. Une fois ratifiée par les sections locales du SCFP et les conseils scolaires, la convention collective sera en vigueur du 1er juillet 2019 au 30 juin 2022.

Les détails de l’entente de principe ne seront disponibles qu’après sa ratification par toutes les parties, ce qui devrait se faire début juillet.

Les membres du SCFP 4227 offrent une grande variété de services dans les écoles francophones de la Colombie-Britannique. Ils sont aides-enseignants, intervenants auprès des jeunes et des Autochtones, employés de bureau, informaticiens, travailleurs du programme Franc-Départ, travailleurs en soutien administratif et intervenants auprès des élèves et familles immigrantes. Ils soutiennent 6 000 élèves de la maternelle à la douzième année dans 41 écoles francophones de la province.

TERRACE — CUPE 2052, K-12 support workers at SD82 reached a tentative agreement on May 31 following one week plus one day of bargaining. The local held five ratification meetings throughout the region and their collective agreement ratification was completed by members on June 20. Members voted for the agreement in good numbers.

“Bargaining was amicable, with mutual respect on both sides,” said CUPE 2052 President Monica Brady. “Our bargaining team was very diverse with member representation for most positions.”

The tentative agreement also incorporates the provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September. The current K-12 agreement expires on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school district Boards of Trustees, the collective agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in early July.

CUPE 2052 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Youth Care Workers, Indigenous Support Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Maintenance, IT, Administrative Support and Grounds Workers. They provide K-12 support service in Terrace, Kitimat, Kitwanga, Hazelton and Stewart in SD82 (Coast Mountains).

LANGLEY — CUPE 1851, K-12 custodial, maintenance and IT workers at SD35 (Langley), reached a tentative agreement on June 26, following seven bargaining sessions.

“Our team started preparing at the beginning of the year and kept focused and on task throughout bargaining,” said CUPE 1851 Vice President Carey Schafer. “As well, the employer was willing to listen and work with us.” Schafer noted that bargaining went well with both sides working hard to achieve the tentative agreement. In spite of their efforts, the process of identifying uses for the local bargaining funds in ways that would benefit all CUPE 1851 members was challenging.

The tentative agreement also incorporates the provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September. The current K-12 agreement expires on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school district Boards of Trustees, the collective agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in early July.

CUPE 1851 represents approximately 220 members in Langley. They are custodians who keep schools clean and safe for students; maintenance workers (carpenters, electricians, painters, mechanics, HVAC operators, plumbers, locksmiths, roofers and glaziers) who maintain equipment and buildings; grounds workers who take care of playground equipment, fields and school grounds; and IT workers who maintain servers, computers, equipment and software in Langley schools.

GRAND FORKS — Local residents enjoyed a free public swim at the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre on June 21, thanks to the sponsorship of CUPE Local 2098 (K-12 support staff). Swimmers of all ages attended, including 65 school-age children, kicking off the summer with a festive event.

“Everyone enjoyed the swimming and had lots of fun,” said CUPE 2098 President Janet Thorpe.

Members were so enthusiastic about the event, said Thorpe, that they suggested adding toys for kids to enjoy and take home at the end of the day. As well as squirt guns and inflatable toys, the local also purchased swimming noodles for donation to the aquatic centre. Members distributed flyers promoting the event at elementary schools in Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Midway and Greenwood.

Thorpe praised CUPE 2254 members who work at the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre. “All of the pool staff were wonderful to work with. They were so welcoming and accommodating,” she said.

The event was part of a cost share campaign with CUPE National and all six Kootenay K-12 locals – CUPE 4165 (Southeast Kootenay), CUPE 440 (Rocky Mountain), CUPE 748 (Kootenay Lake), CUPE 1285 (Kootenay Columbia), CUPE 2098 (Boundary) and CUPE 2450 (Arrow Lakes). The campaign raised awareness of the excellent services members provide in schools throughout the region.

As well as the sponsorship and branding items, each local produced mini posters and leaflets featuring member photos and quotes, to help put a face on ‘CUPE in the Kootenays.’

“This area has been through some tough economic times and families are still recovering from the flooding in 2018, so it was good to be able to give something back to our community,” said Thorpe.