K-12 support staff unions have endorsed a provincial framework under government’s Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate, which focuses on improving services for people and ensuring fair and affordable compensation.

The framework agreement was reached between the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee, which represents the sector’s support staff unions.

Covering about 34,000 support staff working in a variety of positions, including custodians, trades and maintenance workers, education assistants, clerical, accounting and information technology, the framework paves the way for collective agreements to be negotiated between K-12 support staff local unions and the 60 public school district employers throughout B.C. over the next few months.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) K-12 Presidents’ Council, comprised of CUPE local union presidents, along with representatives from the sector’s other support staff unions, voted earlier this week to endorse the framework that forms the basis of the district-level negotiations. The BCPSEA board of directors endorsed the framework today. 

The provincial framework is consistent with the Sustainable Service Negotiating Mandate and includes:

• a three-year term of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022
• general wage increases of 2% per year
• targeted funding to be negotiated at the local level for support staff that will lead to service enhancements that benefit students
• commitments between the parties to collaborate on procedures that help minimize or eliminate the risk of violence in the workplace in accordance with WorkSafeBC requirements

The Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate supports government’s commitment to improve the services people count on, make life more affordable and invest in sustainable economic growth. The mandate is consistent with B.C.’s commitment to balanced budgets and sound fiscal management and provides parties with the ability to negotiate conditional and modest funding to drive tangible service improvements for people in B.C.

Currently, there are approximately 91,000 public sector employees covered by tentative or ratified agreements reached under B.C.’s Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate.

Learn More:

For more information about public sector bargaining in B.C., visit: www.gov.bc.ca/psecbargaining