Highlights of tentative framework agreement with K-12 support staff unions

Posted on June 13, 2014 by CanucksBanter

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca June 9, 2014

VANCOUVER – “Further to our announcement last night, we’re pleased to provide some details of the tentative framework agreement reached with the K-12 Presidents’ Council representing support staff unions in the public education sector, with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) having the largest membership,” said Michael Marchbank, Public Administrator of the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

“As the unions are speaking with their members and we are communicating with our members,we will only touch on the key highlights at this time,” said Marchbank. “This Agreement sets the framework for school districts and their support staff unions to conclude local bargaining, which we expect to wrap up with ratifications in the fall.”

The proposed agreement is for a five-year term from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2019 and includes wage increases consistent with the pattern of agreements concluded in the broad public sector under the Economic Stability Mandate. In acknowledgment that support staff have been caught up in the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) strike action, they will also receive an Employee Support Grant to recognize lost wages for employees not crossing lawful picket lines established by the BCTF.

The parties have also agreed to standardize extended health benefit plans for the majority of support staff, which will provide enhanced benefits for employees while at the same time providing efficiencies for the employer. Other key areas of the tentative agreement include increased hours for education assistants, who provide vital support for the learning needs of students in our classrooms, and a commitment to a job evaluation plan to help address recruitment and retention issues.

“This is now the fourth provincial Framework Agreement negotiated between BCPSEA and the K-12 Presidents’ Council since 2006, covering approximately 34,000 employees” said Marchbank. “This success provides ample evidence that the bargaining system works — when the parties come to the table with reasonable expectations and a flexible, solution-oriented approach, negotiated agreements can be concluded that meet the interests of both employers and employees and provide important stability for all stakeholders in our public education system.”

Provincial Framework Agreement between BCPSEA and Support Staff Unions:

BC Government Leaving School Districts In No Win Situation

Posted on April 23, 2014 by CanucksBanter

Just-saying

April 23, 201 4

By Andrew Chernoff https://andrewchernoff.wordpress.com

It should be clear by now. Talk is cheap.

The BC government is not open for business. The doors are closed and their ears are plugged.

The headlines say it all:

From angry teachers, to fuming Cupe education workers, boisterous parents, and frustrated school trustees, it is clear it is not working.

Can civil disobedience be far off the horizon? Just saying….

Or are all these headlines just full of talk, emotion, frustration with no real substance or desire to make real change….to make a real difference…to actually act and put it all on the line, in the streets, on the provincial legislature?

HELLO???!!!!!

For what should be a galvanizing issue….it sure is lonely out here all alone….just saying.

CUPE Local 748 and SD #8 (Kootenay Lake Schools) Ratify New Collective Agreement

Posted on December 23, 2013 by CanucksBanter

CUPE Local 748 Strike Action Averted

School District # 8 (Kootenay Lake Schools) announced that they were able to conclude negotiations with CUPE Local 748, “and have ratified a negotiated agreement with our employees.”, in a statement on December 19, 2013.

“We value each of our employees and we are pleased that our relationship has been strengthened throughout what has ultimately been a very positive experience.” Jeff Jones, Superintendent of Schools/CEO said in a public statement.

“It was thanks to the dedication and solidarity of our members that we were able to achieve a settlement,” said Michelle Bennett, President of CUPE Local 748, when a tentative agreement was reached on December 13, with successful ratification on December 18.

The Board of Education ratified the CUPE Local 748 Memorandum of Agreement on December 17.

Earlier a, Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA) was negotiated by the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council Provincial Bargaining Subcommittee and the BC Government on September 18th.

CUPE negotiated a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement enshrined a 3.5% end-rate wage increase and a pay-direct card for up-front drug costs (BlueNet and Blue RX card). CUPE locals with existing drug cards and/or PharmaCare formulary as part of their extended health plan retain their same coverage, subject to local negotiations. CUPE also forced all sick leave cuts off of the table.

The PFA also provides CUPE education workers with new recognition and respect for education assistants.

Ratification of the PFA deadline was December 20 for all school district locals and put pressure on on all school district locals to conclude their contract negotiations with their respective school districts under the BC Government’s ‘cooperative gains mandate’ by the same date.

The BC Government’s ‘cooperative gains mandate’ presented a challenge for School District # 8 and CUPE Local 748 and other school districts in finding existing resources for the unfunded agreement. Burdened further with increased hydro rates, districts already struggling with more than a decade of underfunding from the BC government endeavoured to adopt cost savings plans required to find money to pay for the long overdue wage adjustment.

CUPE Local 748 education workers rally in Nelson

Posted on November 30, 2013 by CanucksBanter

November 29, 2013 http://cupe.bc.ca

For the second day in a row, education workers in the Kootenay Lake School District rallied for a fair and reasonable contract. Workers rallied yesterday in Creston, where education assistants, tradespersons, bus drivers, custodians, along with teachers, parents and community allies gathered to show CUPE solidarity in School District 8.

Today, nearly 100 education workers in Nelson demonstrated to send a message to trustees that without a fair deal, a region-wide disruption to classes is inevitable.

School District 8 (Kootenay Lake) has not yet adopted a budget plan for the provincially-negotiated deal, threatening to send Kootenay Lakes schools into an avoidable strike. Elsewhere in BC, more than 40 school districts have reached settlements with CUPE locals.

Today’s speakers included:

Bargaining Committee Chair Mike Kootnikoff
MLA for Nelson-Creston Michelle Mungall
CUPE Kootenay District Council President Gerry Shmon
Nelson District Teachers’ Association President Paul Broscario
CUPE K-12 Coordinator Bill Pegler
West Kootenay Labour Council President Gerry Shmon

Mungall emphasized that the BC Liberal government has done a poor job of supporting public schools in the region. She put the blame for the trustees’ difficult budget decisions squarely at the feet of the provincial government.

Pegler agreed with Mungall, saying “The way forward is to sign a deal with CUPE workers as quickly as possible and form a united front to put pressure on the government to make education a priority.”

Local 748 members voted 100% to reaffirm their strike mandate on Saturday, November 23.

Tentative deal reached for CUPE’s public school education workers—CUPE BC

Posted on September 19, 2013 by CanucksBanter

RICHMOND, BC—The Canadian Union of Public Employees has reached a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement with the BC Public Schools Employers’ Association (BCPSEA). The Framework Agreement was unanimously endorsed by the CUPE BC K-12 Provincial Bargaining Sub-Committee and will be recommended to the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council for endorsement.

Each CUPE union local will then take this provincial agreement to their respective tables with school districts to conclude collective bargaining.

“Over two years this agreement provides our members a total 3.5 percent wage adjustment, with no concessions,” said CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair Colin Pawson. “We were also able to work with the employer on a pay direct drug card.”

“As well, the agreement recognizes the professional role of Education Assistants through formal changes to the School Act and collective agreements,” added Pawson.

The agreement provides a 1 percent wage increase on July 1, 2013, 2 percent on February 1, 2014 and 0.5 percent on May 1, 2014.

“CUPE BC’s 27,000 education workers are vital to keeping our schools clean, safe and inclusive,” said CUPE BC President Mark Hancock. “I want to thank all 85,000 of our members across the province, and our K-12 members in particular, for their solidarity. It’s only because we held together that we were able to negotiate a fair and reasonable contract, despite demands for concessions from the government.”

“I would also like to thank the BC Teachers’ Federation for their unwavering commitment to public education in our province and for their strong support during these difficult negotiations,” added Hancock.

Key Provincial Framework Agreement details:

The agreement’s term is July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014.
It provides a wage increase of 3.5 percent.
The introduction of a pay direct card for up-front drug expenses for virtually all Locals.
There are no concessions for CUPE members.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents more than 27,000 education workers in BC’s K-12 system.

This agreement covers union members in 69 bargaining units across BC. CUPE represents members in 57 of those bargaining units.

IUOE Local 963 Business Manager Tim DeVivo represented the 12 other education worker union locals in this process.

– See more at: http://cupe.bc.ca/news/3159#sthash.VCKdsfPn.dpuf

Andrew Phillip Chernoff

The Outer Limits To The Inner Depths

Category Archives: cupe bc education workers