BURNABY—CUPE has reached a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement with the BC Public Schools Employers’ Association (BCPSEA). The Framework Agreement was unanimously endorsed by the CUPE BC K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee after two more full days at the bargaining table on December 13 and 14. The agreement was presented to the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council on December 15 and it was overwhelmingly endorsed by council members.  The Presidents’ Council is made up of presidents from 55 CUPE K-12 locals and is the body that set the priorities for the bargaining committee.

BURNABY—The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 26,000 school support staff in British Columbia, has reached a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement with the BC Public Schools Employers’ Association. The Framework Agreement was unanimously endorsed by the CUPE BC K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee and will be recommended to the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council for endorsement.

NEW WESTMINISTER – The New Westminster Board of Education has voted unanimously to end the use of bottled water in school facilities and promote public water through educational material.

The motion, brought forward by trustee Lori Watt, directs staff to stop providing bottled water at events hosted by School District 40, phase out contracts for bottled water companies, and report on the status of water fountains in school buildings.

Marcel Marsolais, CUPE 409 presidentThe school district joins Metr

Kootenay area presidents Michelle Bennett, CUPE 748 (Kootenay Lake Schools) and Cherryl MacLeod, CUPE 1285 (Kootenay-Columbia Schools)

RICHMOND—More than 50 local presidents from school district locals throughout the province met in Richmond Friday to review bargaining survey results and begin to map out 2010 bargaining priorities and strategy. Guests at the CUPE B.C.

BURNABY —A financial crisis currently plagues BC public schools. CUPE National research representative John Malcolmson offers a new look at how and where the crisis is happening.

The signs of the public education funding crisis are everywhere. Parents are increasingly roiled with the ongoing assault on what public schools are able to offer their children. School trustees are starting to move to a more assertive political stance after years of concern over the program cuts they find themselves forced to make.

VANCOUVER – CUPE BC’s provincial executive, which is meeting in Vancouver, applauded the joint work between school trustees, parents, teachers and staff in response to serious government underfunding.

CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill says that there has been an historic response across the province to the Liberal government’s arrogant and short-sighted cost cutting, with many districts sending joint letters to government about funding problems.

“The harmful impact of cuts and downloaded costs on the education of B.C.

VANCOUVER – Conference participants were on their feet more than once during the opening night of CUPE BC’s Champions for Public Education conference on Monday. About 250 CUPE members and staff from the K-12, university and college sectors have come together for two days to share information and participate in workshops.

CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill opened the conference and talked about the important links between CUPE’s more than 40,000 education workers and all CUPE members.

BURNABY—CUPE BC has joined with other education partners to ask Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid to reverse budget cuts that are eroding B.C.’s public education system.

RICHMOND—Close to 200 delegates from over 50 local unions in CUPE’s K-12 sector in British Columbia spent two days in Richmond to establish a provincial bargaining council, talk policy and show some solidarity.

CUPE national president Paul Moist gave the opening address to the group which represents CUPE’s 26,000 members in the BC K-12 sector.

RICHMOND—CUPE national president Paul Moist and CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill will join close to 200 delegates from more than 50 CUPE K–12 locals at an historic inaugural meeting of a provincial K–12 Presidents’ Council. The meeting will be on September 18 and 19 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel (formerly the Richmond Inn).