Tag Archives: cupe bc k-12

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

Posted on by

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:

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

Posted on by

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

An open letter from CUPE BC and the BCTF

Posted on by

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

BCTF warns CUPE strike imminent

Posted on by
CUPE Returns to the bargaining table Monday, but neither the union or the BCTF is optimistic a deal can be reached.

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.

CUPE secures additional bargaining dates but government offers are net loss for education workers

Posted on by

September 10, 2013       http://cupe.bc.ca

VANCOUVER—CUPE’s talks with the BC Public Schools Employers’ Association will continue on September 16, but a lack of progress on a reasonable wage increase for education workers in BC’s K-12 system threatens to shut down the public school system.

“We don’t have endless patience. Our members have been without a wage adjustment for four years. We are seeking an extremely modest raise with no concessions, but the government won’t even offer that,” said CUPE spokesperson Bill Pegler.

Other public sector settlements signed in the last year have included two percent wage increases in each year of the agreement. CUPE education workers’ demands are in line with these settlements.

“By refusing to offer education workers what has been offered to other public sector units, the government is inviting a province-wide strike that will shut down the whole public school system,” said Pegler. “The government’s negotiating position is irresponsible to parents and insensitive to the system’s lowest paid workers.”

In addition, the government is proposing to cut paid sick time by two thirds and cut sick day pay by 15 percent for the newest employees.

Recent polling conducted by Ipsos for the Canadian Union of Public Employees reveals broad support among British Columbians for a wage adjustment for education assistants and other education workers in BC’s K-12 system.

Survey highlights include:

  • 81% believe that education support worker wages should keep up with inflation.
  • When told the average annual earnings for CUPE education workers, 62% of British Columbians say these workers are under-paid.
  • 66% believe that BC’s schools need more government funding.

“CUPE education workers keep BC schools clean, safe, and inclusive. Our bargaining demand for 2 percent wage increase for each of two years is in-step with the public’s expectations of compensation,” said Pegler.

The survey was conducted online during August 30–September 4, 2013 with over 800 British Columbians from across the province. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.9 percentage points had all British Columbia adults been surveyed.

Virtually all of the CUPE locals representing education workers are in a strike position. CUPE locals will serve at least 72-hour strike notice before withdrawing labour and establishing picket lines.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents more than 27,000 education assistants, clerical staff, trades, Aboriginal workers, youth and family workers, custodians, and bus drivers in BC.

cope491

Sept 10 CUPE secures additional bargaining dates but government offers are net loss for education workers.pdf