The Support Staff Education Committee Update

May 30 2023

The Support Staff Education Committee (SSEC) has been busy working to enable training for support staff across the province. This bulletin provides an overview of the committee’s objectives, ongoing work, and upcoming plans and objectives.

SSEC is a joint committee made up of Union and BCPSEA representatives. The Committee’s mandate is to manage the distribution of education funds in support of skills development for K-12 support staff.

2019-2022 mandate
Under the 2019-2022 Provincial Framework Agreement, the Committee was tasked with managing the distribution of education funds in support of skills development for support staff, and developing training materials. The Committee allocated three million of available funds to union locals and school districts for delivering staff training.

The Committee has disbursed funds to union locals and school districts for a wide range of training from non- violent crisis intervention to IT skills enhancement. The Committee encourages union locals and school districts that have not yet accessed these funds to identify opportunities to use their allocated funds. The SSEC funds allocated to each school district, as well as the application form to access said funds per the 2019-2022 Provincial Framework Agreement are attached.

Education Assistant curriculum development
In collaboration with OpenSchoolsBC, SSEC has engaged an Education Peer Mentor and a Special Education Helping Teacher to update and create an online version of Education Assistant curriculum modules on inclusive learning and understanding behaviour. We anticipate this module will be finalized and available to districts in late fall 2023 following a short pilot process. The Committee is also identifying opportunities to develop training modules to support employee health and safety.

2022-2025 Provincial Framework Agreement mandate

The 2022-2025 Provincial Framework Agreement sees additional funds for skills development for support staff.
Funding is as follows:
July 1, 2022: $1,050,000
July 1, 2023: $1,050,000
July 1, 2024: $2,050,000
A portion of these funds will be allocated to supporting the development of training materials aligned with the Committee’s objectives.

OTHER SUPPORT STAFF UNIONS:
BCGEU Teamsters
CCNTSA USW
CMAW VSB Trades
IUOE WVMEA

The remaining funds will be available for union locals and school districts to apply for in the 2024/2025 school
year to enable the full accumulation of funds before disbursement.
The 2022-2025 Provincial Framework Agreement also tasks the Committee with additional objectives: to enable
the provision of education opportunities to enhance and support the understanding, recognition and
reconciliation process with indigenous Peoples, and opportunities to enhance and support equity, diversity and
inclusion as well as cultural safety.

The Committee looks forward to providing more updates as our work progresses.

SSEC bulletin – May 30, 2023

SSEC Training Fund – District Distribution – AMENDED (Jan 2022)

Join the conversation and share your priorities about your work and public education

Join the conversation and share your priorities about your work and public education

CUPE members in British Columbia’s K-12 (including early years) public education system are invited to participate in a series of consultation and planning calls set to begin in early April. These Zoom calls — hosted by the CUPE K-12 Presidents Council and CUPE National staff — are an important and exciting opportunity for members to hear from others who do the same or similar work, and to share information
and priorities.
We know that each district might have different job titles/positions, so please choose the one that relates closest to yours. We have set up these calls to be inclusive of everyone in a focussed and informative conversation.

 

How to register

Each call has a unique Zoom link which will take you to a separate Zoom registration form. You must register for each call you wish to attend.

If you happen to click on the wrong link do not complete the information, instead go back to the call listings and click on the correct link. Making your selection will take you to a simple form. When you click “Submit”, a unique Zoom link to register for the meeting you have selected will open in a new window. You will receive an email with your call information after you register. If you have any problem, please email: closito@cupe.ca

 

Register here

 

Bulletin-61-Register-4-Classification-Calls-.pdf (cupe.ca)

Making progress on standardized EA credentials

Click Here to view the: EA_Position_Paper_March_30_2021


Bulletin 60 – Making progress on standardized EA credentials

CUPE is making exciting progress on standardizing EA credentials across the province. As negotiated in the Provincial Framework Agreement (PFA), CUPE will continue to work toward standardization of education assistant credentials and qualifications to prevent school districts from creating in-house EA qualification programs as short as two weeks in length.

Benefits of standardization

Credential standardization will increase EA hours to full-time where possible and desired. As well, it will increase classification and compensation of EAs in the public education system, ensuring that EAs are appropriately educated and equipped to provide high level assistance that will ensure the safety of students and EAs.

Key objectives of working with the Ministry

In addition to the negotiated terms and the continued work of the provincial committees, CUPE has been advocating to standardize EA credentials with the Ministry of Education. On behalf of CUPE EAs, we will continue this dialogue in the months to come.

One of our key objectives is to have standardized provincial education requirements for EAs established, with credentials offered exclusively through public post-secondary institutions.

Experienced EAs who are already working should have the opportunity to participate in additional education if desired, but this should not be mandatory for EAs with experience. We understand that the Ministry of Education recognizes the need for these improvements to the education system and will partner with CUPE on implementing these goals. This process will require time to ensure that a system for standardizing EA credentials is well-structured and robust.

Position paper makes our case

CUPE Research and National Staff have compiled a position paper titled “Standard Credentials for Education Assistants.” This paper outlines CUPE’s goals for credential standardization, asserts jurisdiction on the topic, and makes recommendations.

This position has been informed and developed over the past number of years with input from CUPE K-12 members throughout B.C., committees struck through the PFA, and CUPE National Research.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS

  • Supporting diverse learners with complex challenges and needs requires adequate staffing levels and appropriate education
  • More EAs supporting students with diverse needs and behavioural challenges are needed
  • Education programs for EAs and EA qualification requirements established by school districts vary widely
  • Offering standardized education programs and qualifications through public post-secondary institutions is the best way to ensure comprehensive, accessible, transferable education based on best practices and current research
  • Compensation for EAs needs to be increased
  • Better wages will increase EA retention and recruitment

SAVE THE DATES:

Upcoming classification calls for Education Assistants, SSWs, CEAs and similar classifications will be an opportunity to consult on priorities for standardizing EA credentials and to discuss the position paper.

Okanagan & Kootenays
April 20th  5:30-7:30 pm

Northern B.C.
April 22nd  5:30-7:30 p

Vancouver Island &
in island communities

April 27th  5:30 – 7:30 pm

Metro Vancouver & Fraser Valley
April 29th  5:30 – 7:30 pm

View PDF.

Proposed Changes to the Municipal Pension Plan

September 17, 2020

Dear Members,

The plan partners (unions, government, UBCM) of the Municipal Pension Plan have come to an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on proposed negotiated changes to the pension plan. At this time, CUPE BC is reaching out to members to share information about the proposed changes, answer questions, and hear feedback. When approved, these changes would only come into effect as of January 1, 2022 and would only apply to service after that date.

 

If you would like to know more about how the changes will directly impact you:

  • Visit mppredesign.ca to learn more about the changes generally.
  • Use the online calculator to learn more about how the proposed changes affect you directly.
  • If you need help navigating the website, you can call the project’s Call Centre at: 1-877-251-0997 (the Call Centre staff cannot answer detailed questions about plan design.) Call Centre hours of operation 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, open from September 14 to October 23, 2020.
  • If you have a question or comment, you can go online to ca and click on “submit a question” and that question will be directed to CUPE.
  • If you still have questions or wanted to provide feedback, please contact CUPE BC at: plandesign@cupe.ca

K-12 support workers in Okanagan-Skaha reach tentative agreement

PENTICTON, BC, Sept. 25, 2019 /CNW/ – CUPE 523, K-12 support workers at School District 67 in Okanagan-Skaha reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 23, following five bargaining sessions that began June 20.

CUPE Local 523 Acting President Tammie Koroluk said that this round of bargaining was a new experience for the bargaining committee, who is bargaining separately with the three districts represented by CUPE 523 for the first time (SD 53, SD 67, and SD 83).

“We have a very dedicated bargaining committee who have spent parts of the summer and September bargaining three agreements,” said Koroluk. “Our team is thoughtful, resourceful and completely dedicated in making gains for our members. We negotiated language that will benefit our School District 67 members and we worked collaboratively with the employer in a respectful manner. We hope to build on this relationship as we go forward.”

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 on Oct. 1.

CUPE 523 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Library Assistants, Grounds workers, Trades, Indigenous Support Workers, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Clerical, Maintenance, IT, Administrative Support, Strong Start and Supervision Assistants. They provide K-12 support services to students in and around Penticton and Summerland.

CUPE 523 is the only K-12 composite local in the province, representing K-12 workers in Okanagan-Similkameen (SD 53), Okanagan-Shuswap (SD 83) and Okanagan-Skaha (SD 67). In the past all three school districts bargained together but this year they are bargaining separately.

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

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

For further information: Tammie Koroluk, CUPE 523 Acting President: 250-253-3648; Paula Arab, CUPE Communications Representative: 604-292-0215

K-12 support workers in Okanagan-Similkameen reach tentative agreement

OLIVER — CUPE 523, K-12 support workers at School District 53 in Okanagan-Similkameen reached a tentative agreement after five sessions of bargaining that began in early June. The tentative agreement was reached Tuesday following a 14-hour bargaining marathon.

CUPE 523 Acting President Tammie Koroluk said that this round of bargaining was a new experience for the bargaining committee who is bargaining separately with the three districts represented by CUPE 523 for the first time (SD 53, SD 67, and SD 83).

“It’s definitely made things really interesting. Although there were lots of challenges, our bargaining committee rose to meet those challenges,” said Koroluk.

She said that the bargaining team worked really hard not only during the bargaining process, but in preparation leading up to it. “The bargaining committee worked diligently.”

CUPE 523 Okanagan-Similkameen Unit Chair Sean Harris was also impressed with everyone’s hard work. “We had our issues with the school district that we worked through. We had a great group of people on the CUPE side and we were able to work through to an agreement that met the needs of both sides,” said Harris, giving kudos to everyone at the table.

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 September.

CUPE 523 members, who provide a wide variety of services that support students, include Education Assistants, Grounds workers, Indigenous Support Workers, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Trades, Clerical, Maintenance, IT, Administrative Support, Supervision Assistants, and Youth Care Workers. They provide K-12 support services to students in Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Cawston, and Keremeos.

CUPE 523 is the only K-12 composite local in the province, representing K-12 workers in Okanagan-Similkameen (SD 53), Okanagan-Shuswap (SD 83) and Okanagan-Skaha (SD 67). In the past all three school districts bargained together but this year they are bargaining separately.