In March 2010, 8 of the 10 locals that make up CUPE’s Universities Coordinated Bargaining Committee (UCBC) served notice to bargain. The other two followed shortly thereafter.

The UCBC meets regularly to remain coordinated, share progress, and monitor the status of bargaining in other education sectors and provincial unions.

RICHMOND—Members of local 15, 1978, 3495 and 4816 came together October 14 to discuss current issues in the healthcare field and identify CUPE's bargaining priorities for the upcoming round of negotiations. 

The morning started with a welcome from CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Mark Hancock. Guest speaker Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam and the Opposition Health Critic, followed by speaking about healthcare in B.C. and the direction it is going.

VICTORIA—CUPE Local 1978 and the Capital Regional District (CRD) have reached a tentative contract settlement.

Details will be released once the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the CRD and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association have all ratified the new agreement. The parties were in negotiations for nearly six months. Their last collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2010.

CUPE Local 1978 represents approximately 570 CRD municipal workers.

52 of CUPE's 55 K-12 presidents listen to a presentation from the K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee.

BURNABY—The presidents of CUPE’s K-12 support staff locals met in Richmond Wednesday to discuss the progress of provincial bargaining, set key priorities, and identify the next steps towards securing a provincial settlement.

New contract improves job security and fair work practices

BURNABY—Community-based social service workers from the nine unions in the sector have approved their new collective agreements. The vote was 88 per cent in favour for General Services and 79 per cent in favour for Community Living Services.

The agreement improves job security and fair work practices for workers, such as bumping, job selection language and bullying.

New agreement improves job security, work practices in community-based social services sector

BURNABY—British Columbia’s frontline community-based social service workers have approved their new collective agreements.

KENT—CUPE Local 458 workers have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the District of Kent.

The municipal workers and the Council for the District have a new deal which expires on Dec. 31, 2013.  Included in the package are wage increases in each year, access to laser treatments under vision care and a direct pay drug card.

CUPE 458 president Bryan Bickley says that “the improvements we have been able to make in this agreement are consistent with those in neighbouring communities.

VICTORIA—CUPE Local 50 and the city of Victoria have reached a tentative agreement. Details will be released once the union, the city and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association ratify the deal. The union’s ratification vote will be held on Oct. 17.

Negotiations began nearly six months ago for a contract that expired on Dec. 31, 2010.  A strike vote was taken last month.

BURNABY—The members of CUPE 3338-5 that work for the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) have ratified a new agreement. The agreement was reached on Friday October 7, 2011 with the assistance of a mediator. Now that both parties have voted in favour of ratification, the lockout is over and staff are back at work. The lockout began on July 10, 2011.

The new three-year agreement protects the wages and job security of all current staff and includes a 1 per cent increase in the third year.

BURNABY—Today marks day 78 of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) lockout at SFU. It is also the day the SFU community learned that the SFSS Board of Directors quietly voted to double their compensation with the money saved by locking out their own staff.