CRANBROOK — CUPE 4165, K-12 support workers, reached a tentative agreement with SD5 (Southeast Kootenay) on Tuesday. Bargaining began in February and the employer and union met 12 days in total.

“We wanted to reach an agreement by the end of June and I’m glad we made that goal,” said CUPE 4165 Acting President Irene Bischler. “We worked well as a team, with our biggest focus being on what was best for members.”

Bischler noted that this round of bargaining had its ups and downs. She praised her National Servicing Representative for “his unbelievable leadership and guidance that led us through bargaining,” especially important because most of the union committee were new to bargaining.

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 by the end of the month.

CUPE 4165 members provide a wide variety of services that support students including Education Assistants, Aboriginal Support Workers, Youth Care Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Technology Technicians, and Bus Drivers.

The Local represents approximately 375 K-12 support workers in Cranbrook, Jaffray, Fernie, Sparwood, and Elkford in the southeast Kootenay region.

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

SUNSHINE COAST — CUPE 801, K-12 support workers at SD46, reached a tentative agreement last night following five bargaining sessions that began in March.

CUPE 801 President Janice Budgell said that the bargaining process went very well, and their bargaining committee is looking forward to presenting the tentative agreement to members tomorrow at the ratification meeting.

“Our entire bargaining committee was new and we all left feeling it was a positive experience,” said Budgell. “I’m happy with the tentative agreement we will be presenting.”

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 within a week.

CUPE 801 members provide a wide variety of services that support students including Education Assistants, Aboriginal Support Workers, Child Care Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Technology Technicians, and Administrative Support.

The Local represents approximately 230, K-12 support workers on the Sunshine Coast at Gibsons, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay, Madeira Park, Roberts Creek and Pender Harbour.

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

DAWSON CREEK — CUPE 4992 reached a tentative agreement yesterday with SD59, Peace River South. The agreement was reached in one bargaining session.

CUPE 4992 President Darcy Whetter noted that the smaller local did not have a lot of requests and the employer did not seek concessions.

“Both sides were agreeable, and the process went fairly smoothly,” said Whetter. “All in all, it was a good experience.”

The K-12 Provincial Framework Agreement was approved by the K-12 Presidents’ Council in September and 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, expected to be completed by the end of June.

CUPE 4992 represents 30, K-12 maintenance workers in Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Moberly Lake, Pouce Coupe, and the surrounding area. They provide maintenance services throughout the school district including Grounds, Electrical, Cabinet Making, Welding, Electronics, Plumbing, and Carpentry.

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

PRINCE GEORGE — CUPE Local 3742 reached a tentative agreement with SD57 (Prince George) late Friday night. The agreement for Early Years and K-12 support workers followed many 11-hour and 12-hour days of effort by the Local’s bargaining team.

CUPE 3742 President Karen Wong gave kudos to the whole bargaining team and their National Staff Representative who helped develop strategies and creative counterproposals. She noted that the service improvement allowance negotiated in the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) made a big difference in what they were able to accomplish for members in this round of bargaining.

“We’ve developed a good working relationship with the employer over the years,” said Wong. “But this tentative agreement is truly a ‘collective agreement’ between the employer and the union, with wins on both sides.”

Wong notes that every member of the bargaining team is looking forward to presenting the tentative agreement to members starting today.

“Resolving not to take concessions gave us the strength at the table to protect previous gains our members made,” said Wong.

The 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 by early next week.

CUPE 3742 represents just over 1,000 SD57 Early Years and K-12 support workers in the north at Prince George, McBride, Valemount, and Mackenzie. They include education assistants, indigenous workers, Early Childhood Education workers, youth care workers, clerical and custodians.

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

Village of Queen Charlotte — CUPE Local 2020, K-12 support workers on Haida Gwaii, reached a tentative agreement with SD50 on Thursday, June 13th. The Local began bargaining on April 22 and reached the agreement after four bargaining sessions.

“Bargaining was good with lots of discussion, and we came to a good place for all parties,” said CUPE Local 2020 President Ken Evans. “I think our members will be happy with the agreement.”

Evans said that although the employer brought some concessions to the table, the Local was able to withhold them. One of the challenges was finding common ground on how to utilize funds for local bargaining negotiated through the provincial framework agreement.

“I’d like to thank the bargaining committee and our National Representative for coming together to work through this as a team,” said Evans.

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 by the end of June.

CUPE Local 2020 represents approximately 60 members working as Strong Start Facilitators and K-12 support workers including education assistants, bus drivers, dispatchers, clerical, maintenance, custodians, library clerks and first nations resource workers in elementary and secondary schools located in Skidegate, Masset, Port Clements, Sandspit and Village of Queen Charlotte.

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