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.

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).