The first two K-12 support staff agreements have been ratified by local unions, their districts and the BC Public School Employers’ Association board under government’s Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate.

The agreements focus on improving services for people and ensuring fair and affordable compensation, and include:

• a three-year term of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022;
• general wage increases of 2% per year;
• SD 20 (Kootenay-Columbia) and CUPE Local 1285, representing 224 members, negotiated to increase professional development for support staff by adding one more day for training; and
• SD 81 (Fort Nelson) and BCGEU Local 717, representing 56 members, negotiated a provision of monthly collaboration time to educational assistants and similar positions directly supporting students.

The ratifications complete the process begun by the September 2018 Provincial Framework Agreement, which paved 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.

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. Currently, more than 217,000 public sector employees are covered by tentative or ratified agreements reached under the mandate.

Learn More:

Public sector bargaining in B.C.: www.gov.bc.ca/psecbargaining