Cupe Local 748 members that work for School District #8 are holding rallies in Creston on November 27 and in Nelson on November 28 to encourage public support in their efforts to achieve a fair and reasonable agreement with their employer.
Come out to one of the rallies and support our Brothers and Sisters in Cupe Local 748. Rally info is below.
Gerry Schmon, President Kootenay District Council welcomes participants to the first ever KDC Shop Stewards Conference that starts off the KDC 50th Year Anniversary Celebration this weekend in Cranbrook, B.C.
CRANBROOK-The Kootenay District Council is celebrating 50 years of solidarity in the East and West Kootenay areas in Cranbrook this weekend.
The Kootenay District Council started off its 50th year celebration with its first ever KDC Shop Stewards Conference that began on Thursday, September 19 and continued on Friday, September 20.
Over forty participants from CUPE Locals from throughout the Kootenays took part in the two day conference that included: Introduction to Stewarding; Representing Members at Investigative and Disciplinary Meetings; Resolving Grievances Before Going to Arbitration; Conflict Resolutions Skills and Mediation.
On Friday evening, the KDC goes into full celebration mode with a banquet to celebrate its 50 years of solidarity in the Kootenays with honoured quests that include: Paul Moist, President, CUPE National; Mark Hancock, President, CUPE BC; Rhonda Spence, CUPE Assistant Regional Director; Ruth Scher, CUPE Education; Stephanie Smith, West Kootenay Labour Council; Barb Shukin, East Kootenay District Labour Council.
On Saturday, September 21, the KDC Annual General Meeting takes place with representation from CUPE Locals from throughout the Kootenays.
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 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
Dear colleagues, sisters, and brothers,
BC’s public education system thrives because of the work you all do in classrooms, schools, board offices, and communities. As educators, school support staff, teachers, skilled trades-people, bus drivers, and professionals we all work together to give students a high-quality, inclusive, and safe education. As unions we work to ensure all of our members are treated fairly and our students get the support they need and deserve.
We are reaching out to each and every member of the BCTF and CUPE BC education sector to provide an update on bargaining and our efforts to secure fair and reasonable collective agreements. While the government is pushing a 10-year term in the media for the BCTF, they are trying to force a 2-year deal on CUPE, one that falls far short of what other public sector unions have received recently. In addition, the government has said it will force school boards to pick up the tab for any salary increase for CUPE workers without any extra funding. If that happens, we will all see more cuts filter down to our classrooms, worksites, and students. We must all stand together in solidarity to make sure that doesn’t happen and convince government it is time to respect BC’s education workers and protect services for students.
While CUPE still has some bargaining dates set, the most recent offer of 0%, 2%, and another 2% on the last day of the proposed contract is less than what other public sector workers have achieved and is essentially less than zero after concessions. CUPE locals have taken strike votes and they are prepared to activate them with full-scale job action if the government does not improve its offer. The BCTF, in support, unanimously passed two resolutions at its special summer Representative Assembly declaring their support for CUPE. Here are the resolutions:
That the Federation call upon the provincial government to negotiate in good faith with CUPE and to fully fund any negotiated settlement.
That the Federation express solidarity with CUPE and support for its efforts to conclude a negotiated collective agreement.
In the likely event of a strike that sees CUPE workers set up picket lines at school sites, teachers will respect them and join with CUPE in solidarity. Teachers who were part of the BCTF’s two-week strike in October 2005 will remember CUPE’s K–12 workers joined those picket lines in support of teachers’ efforts to get a fair deal and improve learning conditions.
In March 2012, BCTF members escalated their job action with a three-day strike under essential services. CUPE members did not cross picket lines. Due to an essential services order and a Labour
Relations Board ruling, the BCTF was only allowed to establish “sticket” lines—not traditional picket lines. Had they been official picket lines, CUPE members were ready and willing to walk those lines with teachers again, but they refrained from doing so at the BCTF’s request.
All members, whether you are with the BCTF or CUPE, should contact your local union office if you want more information in the days and weeks ahead about how picket lines and strike pay work. BCTF and CUPE local presidents are currently meeting to share information. CUPE and the government will be back at the bargaining table on September 16, 17, and 18. We will inform all of you as soon as we receive any news. Please know that the CUPE bargaining subcommittee is not optimistic a settlement can be reached without job action.
Despite the uncertainty ahead and knowledge that we are facing a government intent on downloading costs to boards, forcing cuts onto students, and restricting wage increases for our members, we remain hopeful that working together we can achieve a fair result.
We all make a real, constructive, and positive difference in the lives of students and families across BC. Parents, school trustees, and many other stakeholders know how important your work is and they are on your side. They know that a fair deal for our members means better support for BC students. By standing together, we will be stronger and have a better chance of convincing government that they need to take a fair and reasonable approach to bargaining.
CUPE and the BCTF’s interests are the same. We must continue to stand together to defend the interests of all our members, and each and every student we proudly support.
In solidarity,
Mark Hancock, President, CUPE BC Jim Iker, President, BCTF
Sara Norman September 15, 2013 http://www.news1130.com
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) CUPE’s BC Education Sector has voted to strike if they can’t reach a deal in the next round of bargaining.
Now, the B-C Teachers’ Federation President Jim Iker is warning in the event of a strike, teachers will stand on the picket line in solidarity.
CUPE will be at the bargaining table Monday through Wednesday.
If the government doesn’t improve it’s latest two-year contract offer to CUPE, which the union claims will actually be less than their current contract, education assistants and support workers will take strike action.
In an email to members, the BCTF says CUPE is not optimistic a deal can be reached without a walkout.
But Iker says they’re still hopeful they can negotiate a fair deal for teachers and CUPE by working together.
Bargaining for the BCTF has been suspended until October while the union is in BC Supreme Court readdressing a 2011 ruling.
At that time, a judge found the provincial government violated constitutional rights when they took away some bargaining rights for teachers.
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 