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CUPE’s education workers launch new ad campaign to build support

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By Amy Judd Global News   http://globalnews.ca   August 25, 2013

CUPE’s education workers are reaching out to the public with a new ad campaign focused on building support for the members who voted to strike in the fall after talks broke off.

CUPE represents more than 27,000 education workers in the K-12 system, including education assistants, clerical staff, trades, custodians, and bus drivers.

Their collective agreements expired more than a year ago, and while settlement talks took place in April, talks derailed shortly after.

The ad campaign will officially launch on Monday and is focused on standing up for clean, safe, and inclusive schools.

“We’ve made every effort to bargain a fair and reasonable settlement with the employers, but their lack of preparation is threatening to disrupt classes this fall,” said Mark Hancock, CUPE-BC President.

It has been more than four years since workers represented by CUPE have received a wage increase.

“If the government doesn’t show a commitment to bargaining, our members will take full-scale job action,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the BC K-12 Presidents’ Council. “They’re frustrated that we’ve had three false starts to negotiating, and the clock is ticking.”

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Government bargaining delays threaten to disrupt classes in the fall

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From: http://cupe.bc.ca    August 13, 2013

BURNABY—Despite assurances that the provincial government was prepared to bargain with CUPE education workers in August, negotiations have broken off indefinitely.

“They called us back to the table. We were ready, they were not. As a result, there is a danger that classes will be disrupted this fall,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council. “Our committee set aside nearly two weeks to bargain, and we came to the table with ideas for cost savings. The only thing missing was a committed bargaining agent on the employer’s side.”

CUPE education workers’ collective agreements throughout the province expired over a year ago. Settlement talks took place in April 2013 but were derailed when it became clear that government had not given the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) a mandate to reach a settlement. BCPSEA is now directly controlled by government, but is still not in a position to bargain.

“If the government doesn’t show a commitment to bargaining, our members will take full scale job action,” said Pawson. “They’re frustrated that we’ve had three false starts to negotiating, and the clock is ticking.”

Once at the table, CUPE representatives emphasize that a fully-funded wage increase is the solution to ending the bargaining impasse.

It has been more than four years since the education assistants, clerical staff, trades, custodians, bus drivers and other workers represented by CUPE have received a wage increase. Virtually all of the 57 CUPE locals representing education workers have had positive strike votes.

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

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CUPE will resume K-12 bargaining in August

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http://cupe.bc.ca   

August 1, 2013

VANCOUVER—CUPE is eager to get back to the bargaining table to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. Tentative dates have been scheduled for the second week in August and CUPE representatives emphasize that a fully-funded wage increase is the solution to ending the bargaining impasse.

“CUPE education workers keep BC schools clean, safe, and inclusive,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council. “The government needs to get back to the bargaining table with funded offers in order to avert more job action in the fall.”

Talks broke off earlier this spring when it was clear that the government had not given the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) any mandate to reach a settlement.

In a news release on Wednesday, July 31 the government announced that it would be replacing BCPSEA’s board with Michael Marchbank of the Health Employers’ Association of BC. CUPE expects that BCPSEA will now have a mandate to conclude bargaining with a fair provincial settlement.

It has been more than four years since the education assistants, clerical staff, trades, custodians, bus drivers and other workers represented by CUPE have received a wage increase. Virtually all of the 57 CUPE locals representing education workers have achieved a strike mandate.

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

– See more at: http://cupe.bc.ca/news/3130#sthash.AdR8ZQZI.dpuf