Powell River K-12 support workers reach tentative agreement

POWELL RIVER, BC, July 2, 2019 /CNW/ - CUPE 476, K-12 support workers at SD47 reached a tentative agreement on June 28 following eight sessions that began in May.

CUPE 476 President Aileen O'Keefe said that bargaining was progressive and that their whole team did a great job. Their goal was to modernize the contract, clean up language, and stretch local dollars to make the best gains for their members.

"The school district and our team showed commitment to work through the clauses and issues to improve and support the members, and also the work that they do every day," said O'Keefe.

The tentative agreement also incorporates the provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September. The current K-12 agreement expired on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school district Boards of Trustees, the collective agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

Further details of the tentative agreement will not be available until after ratification by all parties. Ratification is expected to be completed in early July.

CUPE 476 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Maintenance, IT, Administrative Support, Bus Drivers, and Strong Start workers. The local of approximately 175 members provides K-12 support in the qathet Regional District (Powell River).

To find out more about CUPE members working in K-12, visit bcschools.cupe.ca. 

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)