The K-12 provincial bargaining committee, representing over 30,000 BC school support workers across the province, will be returning to the bargaining table February 17 with the BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA).
Over the past few months, some B.C. public sector unions have reached agreements with their employers, fully funded by the provincial government. At our K-12 sector table, however, the employer’s current proposals do not address the key priorities of our members in public education, and the funding being offered by the province falls far short of what other public sector unions have received.
The K-12 provincial bargaining committee is united that they will not accept proposals that continue the chronic underfunding of B.C. public schools. They will not accept an agreement that does not include increased earning potential and more sustainable workloads for school support workers. CUPE will not accept less for our members then what has been given to other public sector unions.
If nothing changes in the employer’s positions on February 17, an agreement will not be within reach at the table. The bargaining committee believes CUPE will need to consider escalating pressure on BCPSEA and the provincial government.
The bargaining committee is busy preparing for this important bargaining session. The locals of the Presidents Council, along with CUPE leaders and staff are ready to support the bargaining committee at this critical stage and have the plan ready to ensure our union and our members are ready to do what it takes to get an agreement that addresses the key priorities of K-12 school support members.
The bargaining committee knows it can count on the support of members and locals across the province. K-12 members also know they can count on CUPE BC, the national union, and more than 800,000 CUPE members across Canada to have their backs.
Together, CUPE’s BC K-12 members will get the fair deal they deserve.
