Posts published in “K-12 Bulletin”

We’re writing to you on behalf of the Working Group on the Current State of the Education Assistant (EA) Workforce in B.C. (the EA working group). CUPE and the Ministry of Education formed the EA working group in May 2021 to gather information and data to better understand the current state of the EA workforce and potential implications of standardized certification.

As such, the working group has developed a survey that includes questions on the current education, work experience, and career aspirations of EAs. Survey results will be used to inform the work of the group and help them better understand the needs, issues, opportunities, and challenges of the EA workforce.

Here is the link to the survey: https://www.bcedextranet.gov.bc.ca/educ_forms_service/cupe-survey.html

Survey closes on January 14, 2022.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Lina.Branter@gov.bc.ca and kdaub@cupe.ca.

Thank you for your responses – we appreciate your time and feedback.

In Solidarity,

Kirsten & Justin
K-12 Sector Coordinators, BC Region

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Due to the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases over the holiday break, return to school for most students will be delayed until at least January 10, 2022. This delay, ordered by the Public Health Officer today, will allow for enhanced safety measures to be planned and put in place to help contain the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 through the K-12 education system.

School staff will be returning to work as planned on January 3 & 4 to help prepare for the return of students and implementing the enhanced precautions. Some support staff will be needed to provide supports for students during the delayed full return to school. Wages will continue for all staff during this delayed return to classes. CUPE is advocating for wage continuity for all K-12 support staff in the case of any other school closures.

CUPE has been meeting regularly with the Ministry of Education and other K-12 system stakeholders over the holiday break and has offered several priority recommendations to protect school district staff, students, and communities. These recommendations include:

– Rapid tests should be made widely available to staff, students, and their families at no cost.

– K-12 staff should be prioritized for booster shots to ensure maximum possible immunity levels in the K-12 sector.

– Respirator-style masks – ideally N95s – should be provided to staff and students. CUPE also supports increasing education efforts on the importance of wearing masks, and the proper use of well-fitted, high quality, Canadian manufactured respirator-style masks.

– Daytime custodial services be utilized for twice daily cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, including at least once during school hours.

– Support for improved ventilation in school district buildings. In situations where mechanical HVAC or open windows are not feasible (particularly in winter), portable HEPA filters in classrooms and other school spaces to ensure maximum air filtration.

CUPE believes these precautions are necessary to keep our schools clean and healthy. If implemented they will help keep all learning environments open and accessible, while offering the highest protections for students and staff.

K-12 support staff do vital work with students, many of whom have unique needs that require face-to-face interaction. Others work closely with vulnerable students that require special supports that can’t be provided online. Much of the work done by school support staff must be done in close contact. It is extremely important that we take all necessary safety measures to keep learning environments open and accessible for students, families, and communities.

The COVID-19 Omicron variant has made this already stressful pandemic even more challenging. This public health crisis continues to evolve at a very quick pace. CUPE and the K-12 President Council Executive remains in close contact with the Ministry of Education as the situation unfolds and return to schools are developed and implemented.

READ Press Release: CUPE BC welcomes one-week delay to in-classroom education in K-12, urges additional safety measures

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Season’s greetings and solidarity to all our members in the K-12 Sector. We hope you’ll be able to enjoy some well-deserved holiday time safely with family, friends, and your communities.

We thank you for your on-going support and solidarity through what has been another often-challenging year.  We want to commend all of you for your dedication to the province’s students by providing a healthy, clean, and safe high-quality public education system.

We wish you and your family the best this holiday season and look forward to continuing our work together in 2022.

In Peace & Solidarity,

K-12 Presidents Council Executive & Sector Coordinators

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The deadline to fill out your provincial bargaining survey is quickly approaching. This survey is your chance to have a say on the priorities of your provincial bargaining committee as they prepare for negotiations.

The deadline is DECEMBER 17 – So please CLICK HERE today to fill out your survey TODAY!

It should only take about 15-20 minutes of your time. Your answers will be kept confidential, and they will be invaluable to your bargaining committee. The results will also be shared with your Local to help inform bargaining at your Local table. We want to hear your voice!

Update from the provincial bargaining committee

The provincial bargaining committee includes representatives from all regions of B.C. and helped develop the provincial bargaining survey for members. The committee has also been meeting regularly virtually over the past two months in preparation for bargaining, expected to start in early February 2022.

With the assistance of CUPE’s union education branch, committee members have taken part in bargaining training and strategic planning sessions. With varied levels of bargaining experience, the training sessions helped get all committee members up to speed on what to expect at the provincial bargaining table.

The committee members also contributed to strategic bargaining plan. This process included taking a in depth look at the current state of the province’s K-12 sector including the on-going issues and challenges facing our members and planning out the roles and responsibilities of all committee members to make this round of bargaining a true team effort.

Strategic planning also includes a communications plan focused on providing K-12 members timely updates throughout bargaining process and strengthening communications channels to members across the province (via Locals sending out and posting bargaining bulletins, social media etc.).

The next step for the bargaining committee will be to evaluate the bargaining survey results and begin developing bargaining proposals. This work will begin early in the New Year.

The provincial bargaining committee thanks all K-12 members who have already filled out their surveys and reminds all members to have their voice heard by taking part in this important work.

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Public health has recently removed the requirement to self-isolate after an exposure for those who have been fully vaccinated. As a result, BCPSEA has just advised the K-12 Presidents Council that the without prejudice and without precedent general paid leave previously available for asymptomatic staff members who are required to isolate due to a COVID-19 exposure will be ending as of December 31, 2021, subject to the following conditions:

The general paid leave is being discontinued for employees who can be vaccinated but have chosen not to receive the vaccination. After January 1, 2022, an unvaccinated asymptomatic employee who is required to isolate because they have been exposed to COVID-19 will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence.

An employee who has medical documentation from a practitioner substantiating a medical exemption from vaccination, as recognized by the Provincial Health Officer as being a contraindication to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, would still be eligible for the paid leave.

Employees who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine due to a reason other than a medical condition, that they believe would otherwise entitle them to an accommodation under the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, may be asked for additional information to substantiate that request to be eligible for the paid leave.

Please contact your National Representative if you have any further questions regarding this matter.

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