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

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:

CUPE education support workers begin bargaining

June 3, 2014

BURNABY – CUPE began bargaining a new collective agreement this afternoon on behalf of education support workers throughout British Columbia. 

“We are looking to reach a fair and reasonable settlement for our members,” said K-12 sector coordinator Rob Hewitt.

CUPE exchanged proposals with the Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

Hewitt says that funding public education is a top priority for CUPE.

CUPE represents more than 27,000 education support workers in 57 school districts throughout B.C. including: education assistants, school secretaries, caretakers, First Nations support workers, IT workers, Strong Start facilitators, trades and maintenance workers, and bus drivers. 

Their contract expires at the end of the month.

BC Government Leaving School Districts In No Win Situation

 

April 23, 201 4

By Andrew Chernoff                                     http://andrewchernoff.wordpress.com

It should be clear by now. Talk is cheap.

The BC government is not open for business. The doors are closed and their ears are plugged.

The headlines say it all:

• Parents speak out against Coquitlam district cuts
• Blame Victoria for deficit
• ‘School cuts going too deep’
• Burnaby district needs to carve $3.1 million out of budget
• School districts across BC planning deep cuts to balance budgets
• School districts grapple with budget shortfalls
• Central Okanagan school district faces deep budget cuts
• School District chairwoman feels ‘sick’ about cuts

From angry teachers, to fuming Cupe education workers, boisterous parents, and frustrated school trustees, it is clear it is not working.

Can civil disobedience be far off the horizon? Just saying….

Or are all these headlines just full of talk, emotion, frustration with no real substance or desire to make real change….to make a real difference…to actually act and put it all on the line, in the streets, on the provincial legislature?

HELLO???!!!!!

For what should be a galvanizing issue….it sure is lonely out here all alone….just saying.

Parents plead against education cuts in open letter to premier

April 18, 2014

Premier Clark
Room 310
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4

Dear Premier Clark,          

As the Vancouver School Board struggles to create a budget with the limited resources allocated for 2014-15, trustees have called for public input. The Board, parents and citizens are faced with terrible fiscal trade-offs — music programs versus Gifted Education consultants, versus athletic coordinators, versus counsellors — versus a plethora of other valuable educational supports. As well, the VSB is considering more District Closure Days to help balance the budget. And they are not alone. The Vancouver Sun on April 17 has reported shortfalls in 15 school districts across the province. What an assault on the quality of education in British Columbia! 

As parents and citizens, and supporters of Protect Public Education Now, we back all the initiatives that are under the gun — not just programs that matter to us personally — because all contribute to the healthy development of our children, our communities and our province, as a whole. We want education to be funded at the level it deserves, so that your government can keep its election promises, including specific pledges to reduce class sizes and improve classroom composition province-wide.

If your government is to continue to claim that “families come first,” and “a strong economy starts with a strong workforce and that means investing in education,” then it must surely invest significantly, now, in these and other overdue improvements. In recent years, education budgets have been under assault, not just because of direct funding cuts, but because provincial governments have downloaded more operating costs to the school boards, as well as a significant portion of the costs of seismic upgrading.

A fully and sustainably funded public education system is the right of every child. Across Vancouver and the rest of the province, the public is taking up the call from the District Parent Advisory Council: “Invest in our Children NOW. They are the Future.” Premier, you are hearing from your families. Please listen and take action to supplement the 2014-15 Education Budget now, before school boards across the province are forced to compromise our children’s education. As taxpayers, we are willing to shoulder the costs. The province cannot afford to keep adding to an education deficit that will impact future generations.

Thank you,

Protect Public Education Now (PPEN)

James Boothroyd; Brad Cran; Gillian Jerome; Franco Pante; Marlene Rodgers; Jody Woods

Cc: Peter Fassbender, Education Minister; Rob Fleming, Education Critic; Adrian Dix, MLA Vancouver-Kingsway; Patti Bacchus, Chairperson, Vancouver School Board