GRAND FORKS — CUPE 2098, K-12 support workers at SD51 (Boundary), reached a tentative agreement on June 25, following four bargaining sessions that began in April.

“The commitment and creativity shown by the bargaining committee and our National Representative, along with respectful sessions with the employer, made this round of bargaining very successful,” said CUPE 2098 President Janet Thorpe.

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 districts, 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 June.

CUPE 2098 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Custodians, Trades and Maintenance, Clerical, Bus Drivers, IT, Student Supervisors, and Crossing Guards.

The local represents approximately 100 members who provide K-12 support services in Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Rock Creek, Beaverdell, and Big White in SD51 (Boundary).

GOLDEN — CUPE 440, K-12 support workers at SD6 (Rocky Mountain), reached a tentative agreement on June 24. Bargaining began in May and the local met with the employer for a total of five sessions.

“This was a tough round,” said CUPE 440 President Ann Purvis. “Some concessions were brought forward, but in the end we were able to find a balance and a good compromise that was fair to both of us – without concessions.”

Purvis said that their bargaining committee was fantastic and very supportive. “We did a really good job together and made good gains for our members,” added Purvis.

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 districts, 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 June or early July.

CUPE 440 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Youth Care Workers, Intervenors (who work primarily with hearing- and sight-impaired students), Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Bus Drivers, Maintenance, IT, Administrative Support and Grounds Workers.

The local represents about 165 full-time members as well as some casual and temporary workers. They provide K-12 support service in Canal Flats, Edgewater, Golden, Invermere, Kimberley, and Windermere (SD6 – Rocky Mountain).

REVELSTOKE — CUPE 5150, K-12 support workers at SD19, reached a tentative agreement on June 17 following two bargaining sessions.

“Our bargaining committee was great and negotiations were friendly,” said CUPE 5150 President Clara Maltby. “For what we had to work with, bargaining went well.” Maltby noted that contract language was cleaned up and that they were able to make some improvements for members.

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 districts, 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 this month.

CUPE 5150 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Aboriginal Support Workers, Child Care Workers, Strong Start, Custodians, Maintenance, Clerical, and Administrative Support.

The local represents almost 70 K-12 support workers in Revelstoke.

GULF ISLANDS — CUPE 788 K-12 support workers at SD64 reached a tentative agreement on June 24, in bargaining that began two months ago.

“We made good progress in bargaining and added needed language to our Collective Agreement,” said CUPE 788 President Larry Melious.

The CUPE bargaining team encompassed people with lots of experience and some new to bargaining who ‘jumped right in.’ Melious said that bargaining went well, with respectful discussions on all sides.

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 districts, 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 July.

CUPE 788 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Aboriginal Support Workers, Child Care Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Bus Drivers, Maintenance, IT and Administrative Support.

The Local represents approximately 200 members in K-12 who provide support services to students in five island communities — Salt Spring, Pender, Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna, plus about 35 students who come in from Vancouver Island.

To find out more about CUPE members working in K-12, visit bcschools.cupe.ca.

BULKLEY VALLEY — CUPE 2145, K-12 support workers at SD54 have ratified a tentative agreement on June 24, following bargaining that began in April.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our bargaining team – they were great. We all worked really well together and were professional. Our members came to the table ready to do business,” said CUPE 2145 President Rolanda Lavallee.

Lavallee noted that when the local elected their bargaining committee, all departments were represented. The local’s amicable relationship with the employer, she added, was another contributing factor in reaching a deal wholeheartedly endorsed by the membership.

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 districts, the provincial agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

Further details will not be available until after ratification by all parties, expected to be completed this month.

CUPE 2145 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Indigenous Support Workers, Strong Start, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Bus Drivers, Maintenance and IT.

The local represents 47 full-time and 131 part-time members in K-12 who provide support services at seven schools in Smithers, Telkwa and Houston.