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.

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.