BURNABY- CUPE’s 57 BC K-12 Local bargaining committees have reached and ratified collective agreements, meeting the November 30 deadline.

“We’re pleased that all locals were able conclude local bargaining issues by the November 30 deadline,” says K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair Marcel Marsolais.  “Locals can now focus and look forward to the gains we achieved in this round of bargaining.”

Locals bargained individually with school districts to achieve local agreements that added to the provincial framework agreement ratified by the K-12 Presidents’ Council in June.

BURNABY—If Premier Christy Clark is serious about wanting to have B.C. public schools open any time soon, she needs to start demonstrating the leadership qualities she claimed during last year’s provincial election, CUPE BC President Mark Hancock said today.

CUPE BC President Mark Hancock has no doubt as to who should take the blame for the BC Teachers’ Federation’s prolonged contract dispute with the BC Liberal government.

“Make no mistake.  This crisis in education is the direct result of Christy Clark’s 12-year crusade against teachers,” Hancock told a large crowd at a BCTF rally on September 2. “As parents, we will stand with teachers for our kids’ education and their future.  And as trade unionists, we will stand with teachers and support them in their fight for a fair contract.”

VANCOUVER – The K-12 Presidents’ Council today ratified the provincial framework agreement it negotiated on behalf of education support workers with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

“Every region of the province was represented at the bargaining table,” said K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair Marcel Marsolais. “The ratification gives us a really good sense that the majority of locals are satisfied with moving this forward to the next step, which is to get local bargaining done and ratified at the local level.”

BURNABY – On Saturday, June 7, 2014 the K-12 Presidents’ Council and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) reached a tentative provincial framework agreement.

“We’re pleased to conclude a strong agreement that improves education for students and benefits our 27,000 members,” said K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair Marcel Marsolais.  “This agreement is a significant improvement over our last one since increases are provincially funded and will remove pressure on school boards.”

BURNABY – On Saturday, June 7, 2014 the K-12 Presidents’ Council and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) reached a tentative provincial framework agreement.

“We’re pleased to conclude a strong agreement that improves education for students and benefits our 27,000 members,” said K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair, Marcel Marsolais.

The tentative agreement fits within the provincial government’s current mandate.  Additional details of the agreement will be released tomorrow morning, after the K–12 Presidents’ Council has reviewed it.

BURNABY – CUPE will begin 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 will exchange proposals with the Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) today.

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

BURNABY—CUPE BC President Mark Hancock and Secretary-Treasurer Paul Faoro today thanked the 27,000 CUPE workers in the K-12 system for their solidarity and support for the BC Teachers Federation on the picket line this week.

BURNABY - CUPE members joined picket lines on Monday morning as the BCTF began its first day of rotating job actions.  CUPE members throughout B.C. are showing their solidarity on the line.  Please send us your photos. Email to [email protected]

BURNABY – CUPE says that years of downloading major costs to school boards without providing funding to cover them is taking a toll on K-12 education in B.C. 

“Downloading costs onto school districts is now hurting students,” said CUPE BC President Mark Hancock. “Premier Clark campaigned on a ‘families first’ platform in the last election but her definition of family must not include students, as she’s continuing Gordon Campbell’s policy of deliberately underfunding education.”