BURNABY-CUPE Locals have begun reaching settlements with BC school boards. CUPE Local 476 in Powell River and Local 1260 in Langley concluded bargaining late last week.
In the coming weeks of bargaining, CUPE Locals hope to work with school boards to ensure services for all BC students are not adversely affected, and stand together with trustees in calling on the provincial government to invest in public education.
“This is the deal the BC Government negotiated, and so they are required to fund this agreement,” said Colin Pawson, Chair of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council.
CUPE is calling for funding necessary for boards of education to meet the requirements of the Provincial Framework Agreement between the BC Government and education workers.
“Under the government’s own ‘Cooperative Gains Mandate’ services that affect students cannot be cut,” added Pawson. “The work of CUPE education workers is an integral part of the delivery of public education.”
The tentative Provincial Framework Agreement, signed by BC Government appointed negotiator Peter Cameron and the Provincial Bargaining Subcommittee led by CUPE, included an end rate 3.5 percent increase in wages over two years. The agreement provides a 1 percent increase July 1, 2013, 2 percent on February 1, 2014, and 0.5 percent on May 1, 2014.
School district bargaining tables are continuing to meet across BC. Once settlements are achieved, those settlements will be voted on by the memberships of the respective CUPE Locals. There are 57 CUPE Locals across BC, representing 27,000 education workers. The deadline for ratification of all local agreements is December 20th, 2013.
