VANCOUVER — CUPE 407, K-12 inside and outside workers at the Vancouver School Board, reached a tentative agreement last Friday after 6 bargaining sessions that began in May.

CUPE 407 President Brent Boyd noted that although the local made some gains, they are already looking ahead three years to the next round of bargaining to continue to build on those small gains.

“We have complete confidence that the government will find ways to put money back into B.C.’s education system,” said Boyd. “Fully funded apprenticeships and other initiatives could help restore cuts and improve the services that we provide to improve student safety.”

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 407 represents 101 permanent K-12 workers plus seasonal casual workers who provide maintenance and grounds services in Vancouver, including mechanics, heavy equipment operators, labourers, skilled trades and grounds workers.

NEW WESTMINSTER — CUPE 409, K-12 support workers in New Westminster, reached a tentative agreement with SD40 Board of Education on Wednesday evening. The local began bargaining in January and reached the agreement after ten bargaining sessions.

“This agreement is superior to any of the other settlements we were able to achieve since 2000,” said CUPE 409 President Marcel Marsolais. “Our bargaining committee is recommending that our members vote to ratify the agreement.”

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 409 represents approximately 375 K-12 education workers in the New Westminster School District.

SURREY — CUPE 728, the largest K-12 local in British Columbia, reached a tentative agreement after a marathon bargaining session ending at 4 am today.

CUPE 728 President Marcey Campbell praised the bargaining team for their dedication and hard work since early March when bargaining began. She noted that opening each session with an acknowledgement of First Nations territory was a positive feature of bargaining, as was updating contract language to be gender-neutral.

“I’m honoured by the hard work and long hours our committee put in,” said Campbell. “Their professionalism and creativity went a long way towards reaching a settlement that included no concessions.”

“I’m very proud of the gains we were able to make for all of our members, but especially for precarious workers,” added Randy Anderson-Fennell, CUPE 728 bargaining Chair.

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 728 represents more than 4,000 support workers in B.C.’s largest and fastest growing school district, SD36. Members include education assistants, bus drivers, clerical, caretakers, maintenance, and trades.

Mutual respect at the bargaining table and a marathon session lasting until 3 am culminated in a tentative agreement for CUPE 2450 K-12 support workers on June 6. CUPE Local 2450 and School District 10 began bargaining in May.

“Bargaining was really positive,” said CUPE 2450 bargaining Chair Kim Reich. “We certainly had our agenda and we were able to attain some good gains for members, without any concessions.”

CUPE 2450 President Andy Cruden praised the “involved and focused” bargaining team and Chair Kim Reich for their preparation and hard work. “The whole crew gave everything they could,” said Cruden.

Reich noted that funds for local tables negotiated last July as part of the provincial framework agreement (PFA), helped the bargaining process.

The K-12 PFA 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 2450 represents 69 K-12 support workers in Burton, Edgewood, Nakusp and New Denver in SD10. Members include Education Assistants, Bus Drivers, Clerical, Custodians, Trades and Strong Start workers who provide services to assist students in the Arrow Lakes district.

COURTENAY — Early Years and K-12 members of CUPE 439, reached a tentative agreement with School District #71 last week.

According to CUPE 439 President Denise Bullock, it was a productive and energetic round of bargaining. She noted that working collaboratively in a culture of relating to each other as human beings instead of “us vs them” made a big difference. The local’s bargaining committee has been together since last year and the tentative agreement was reached after six bargaining sessions.

“Although under enormous stress with the weight of the membership on our shoulders, our bargaining committee is confident that we achieved the best agreement we could,” said Bullock. “With the gains we’ve made, we hope our members will feel more respected and valued.”

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 439 represents just under 600 Early Years and K-12 workers in the Comox Valley including Trades, IT, Custodians, Library Clerks, Education Assistants, Program Workers, Support Workers, Administrative Assistants, and Distributed Learning Clerks.