Four more K-12 support staff collective agreements have been ratified by the local union, the local school district and the BC Public School Employers’ Association board of directors under government’s Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate.

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

• three-year terms of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022;
• general wage increases of 2% per year;
• SD 28 (Quesnel) and CUPE Local 4990, representing 282 employees, negotiated to establish a professional learning fund for all CUPE employees in the district;
• SD 43 (Coquitlam) and CUPE Local 561, representing 1,336 employees, negotiated funding to extend work hours for education assistants and similar positions directly supporting students, with any residual funds to increase professional development days;
• SD 57 (Prince George) and CUPE Local 3742, representing 865 employees, negotiated to establish a professional learning fund, with residual funds used to modestly increase afternoon, night and weekend shift premiums; and
• SD 64 (Gulf Islands) and CUPE Local 788, representing 160 employees, negotiated to modestly increase the wage rate for heavy-duty mechanic positions to support service delivery, as well as provide in-service skills upgrades and training opportunities for CUPE employees in the district.

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 local support staff unions and the 60 public school district employers throughout B.C.

The Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate supports the 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, there are more than 226,000 public sector employees covered by tentative or ratified agreements reached under the mandate.

Learn More:

Learn more about public sector bargaining in B.C.: www.gov.bc.ca/psecbargaining