CUPE 1091, K-12 support workers at School District 37 in Delta, BC reached a tentative agreement on July 11 following 12 sessions of bargaining that began in early May.
CUPE 1091 President Patti Price noted that each side of the table had three members with no previous bargaining experience. She said that it speaks well to the ability of both sides to work so well together to get things done.
“With lots of good back and forth dialogue, we were able to compromise on some of the tougher issues, to make gains that each group wanted from the outset,” said Price. “Our employer has always been good to deal with and we’ve always been able to find common ground to benefit both sides.”
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 1091 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Youth Care Workers, Indigenous Support Workers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Maintenance, IT, Crossing Guards and Supervision Assistants as well as Administrative Support. They provide K-12 support service in Delta at 24 elementary and 7 secondary schools in the district.
To find out more about CUPE members working in K-12, visit bcschools.cupe.ca.