K-12 support workers, members of CUPE 379, reached a tentative agreement with School District 41 in Burnaby, BC in May after three months of bargaining.

CUPE 379 President Paul Simpson noted that bargaining before the current collective agreement expired did not lessen the seriousness or work to reach a new tentative agreement.

“This was a tough round of bargaining,” said Simpson. “Our members needed to attain some of the gains that mattered to them the most – to enable them to help all students, including those most vulnerable, succeed.”

The provincial framework agreement approved by the K-12 Presidents Council in September forms part of the tentative agreement. The current K-12 agreement expires on June 30, 2019. When ratified by CUPE locals and school districts, the provincial 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 by the end of June.

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