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).

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.