Marcel Marsolais got his early Christmas gift at 9 p.m. on Dec. 14.
Marsolais, president of CUPE Local 409, representing more than 400 New Westminster school support workers, including janitors and special education assistants, was receiving first word that their provincial bargaining unit had reached a tentative two-year collective agreement with the B.C. Public School Employers' Association.
"It's been 18 months of bargaining, at times difficult, but we kept it under the radar, and it's not a bad deal," said Marsolais, who said he spent most of Thursday in conference calls with provincial CUPE representatives learning details about the deal. "I think we got far and above what other public sector unions have settled for. - We knew a deal was there and this will be a perfect Christmas gift."
The deal, which runs from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012, includes: no concessions for CUPE members; $7.5 million in new, ongoing funding to recognize and correct unpaid work for education assistants from the government's class organization fund; $550,000 in new funding for the support staff education and adjustment committee for skills enhancement; $200,000 in financial support to solidify a framework for provincial bargaining; CUPE gaining access to sector demographic and classification information for research purposes; and a wage reopener clause in case the public sector net-zero wage mandate changes over the life of the agreement.
Marsolais was pleased with all aspects of the agreement, which still needs to be ratified by union members. He said the $7.5 million will translate to approximately 45 minutes of extra paid time per week for each eligible education assistant, and the $200,000 to solidify a framework for provincial bargaining is about more than just money.
"It's a huge achievement because they (BCPSEA) have admitted there is a provincial table to bargain at," said Marsolais. "That's been a key goal of ours for years.
Marosolais was also pleased that the union avoided wage concessions.
"It was very important to get that off the table," he said.
The agreement was negotiated quietly at a time when attention was focused on a bitter contract feud between the BCPSEA and the B.C. Teachers' Federation.
Marsolais wouldn't comment on whether the CUPE deal would have any effect on teacher bargaining or whether their low-key approach is one the teachers should have adopted.
"All I can say is we support the teachers 100 per cent," said Marsolais. "There's no doubt teachers will get our full support. - For us, it was a conscious decision on behalf of our provincial bargaining council to bargain quietly, under the radar."
The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 26,000 school support staff in British Columbia. Each CUPE local union will now take this provincial agreement to their local table with school districts to conclude collective bargaining. Marsolais expects the New Westminster ratification vote to take place in early 2012.
