MERRITT — CUPE 847, K-12 support workers at SD58 reached a tentative agreement on June 21, following an exchange of proposals and two bargaining sessions.

“I appreciated our whole bargaining committee,” said CUPE 847 President Lynda Hodgson. “We had a lot of ground to cover and we were able to make improvements that will benefit all members.” Hodgson said that a lot of existing contract language had been cleaned up to be gender neutral and to reflect legislative changes over the years.

Members will be voting on ratification on June 25 and 26 in Princeton and Merritt, respectively.

The tentative agreement reached at the local bargaining table will become part of the complete package members will vote to ratify, that also includes 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 of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in June.

CUPE 847 members provide a wide variety of services including Education Assistants, Strong Start, Custodians, Bus Drivers, Clerical, and Trades and Maintenance workers.

The local represents approximately 140 members in the Nicola-Similkameen School District (SD58) who support students in Merritt, Princeton, Lower Nicola and surrounding area.

SQUAMISH — CUPE 779, K-12 support workers at SD48 (Sea to Sky), reached a tentative agreement on June 21 following 7 bargaining sessions with the employer.

CUPE 779 President Andrea Smith said that bargaining was respectful on both sides and had high praise for her bargaining committee.

“Our whole bargaining team was absolutely awesome,” said Smith. “We had a really great team with representatives from almost every type of service our members provide.”

CUPE 779 members ratified the tentative agreement on Saturday, June 22. Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed this month.

Tentative agreements reached during local bargaining become part of the complete package members vote to ratify, that also includes 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.

CUPE 779 members provide all non-teaching services including Education Assistants, Custodial, Maintenance, Bus Drivers, Mechanics, and Clerical – naming just a few.

The local represents almost 300 members in SD48 who support students in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, as well as six Aboriginal communities: Skwxwú7mesh Uxwumixw, Lil’wat Nation, N’Quatqua Band, Samhquam Ucwalmicw, Skatin Nations, Xa’xtsa and the Metis, Inuit and Off-Reserve Aboriginal Nations.

CUPE 401 members who support K-12 at SD85 reached a tentative agreement on June 20, following four bargaining sessions.

“This employer was open to finding ways to reach an agreement that benefitted all parties,” said CUPE 401 President Blaine Gurrie.

The tentative agreement will form part of the full collective agreement that members will vote to ratify that also includes 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 of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in June.

CUPE 401 members provide a wide variety of services in K-12 including EAs, Custodians, Bus Drivers, Clerical, and Trades.

The local represents 2,100 members across the Island with almost 200 members in SD85 who support students in the northern region of Vancouver Island.

PRINCE GEORGE — CUPE 4991, K-12 maintenance and grounds workers at SD57, reached a tentative agreement on June 21 following two days of bargaining.

“I certainly appreciated the commitment of our bargaining committee – who were mainly new to bargaining – and the support from our National Servicing Representative,” said CUPE 4991 President Shayne Jameson.

The tentative agreement reached at the local bargaining table will become part of the complete package members will vote to ratify, that also includes 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 of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in June.

CUPE 4991 members provide a wide variety of services including Grounds, Maintenance, Trades, Electricians, Technicians, Carpenters, Labourers, and Repairmen.

The local represents approximately 50 members in Prince George who maintain all facilities and grounds in SD57 (Prince George).

NECHAKO LAKES — CUPE 4177, K-12 support workers at SD91 (Nechako Lakes), reached a tentative agreement on Friday. The two parties started bargaining June 11 and after four sessions, including some 12-hour days, wrapped it up with signatures on June 21.

“We had the best bargaining committee in place that there could ever be,” said CUPE 4177 President Florence Robertson.

Robertson said that despite the best efforts of both parties, their expectations were hindered because of an unclear process around Service Improvement Allocation.

“From our perspective, bargaining was disappointing because there wasn’t enough clarity on bargaining the local funds negotiated under the provincial framework agreement,” said Robertson.

The provincial framework agreement (PFA) approved by the K-12 Presidents’ Council in September forms part of the tentative agreement. 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 of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed this month.

CUPE 4177 members provide a wide variety of services that support students including Education Assistants, Aboriginal Support Workers, Child Care Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Bus Drivers, Maintenance, IT and Administrative Support.

The Local represents between 300 and 400 members in K-12 who provide support services to more than 3,500 students in Fort St James, Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Grassy Plains, Granisle, Francois Lake and Burns Lake.

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