News
Colleges reach template agreement
The Colleges and Institutes Support Staff Bargaining Association (CISSBA) reached a template agreement at the end of last week. This agreement now forms the basis for local bargaining. Going forward, locals will go to the table to address local issues and concerns.
Tentative deal reached at VCC
VANCOUVER—CUPE Local 4627 and Vancouver Community College have finally reached a tentative new collective agreement after 15 months of bargaining. The tentative contract reached this afternoon is for a four-year no-concessions deal with a 4% wage increase (1-1-1-1%) over the final two years. (There were no wage increases for the first two years under the provincial government’s Net Zero Mandate). The agreement must still be ratified by CUPE members and by the College Board. A union ratification vote is scheduled for March 12.
New Contract at New Caledonia
PRINCE GEORGE - Cupe Local 4951 support workers and the College of New Caledonia have reached a tentative four-year collective agreement. The no-concessions deal is in line with the provincial BC colleges framework worked out between CUPE and the BC Post Secondary Employers’ Association (on behalf of the provincial government).
CUPE deal at Vancouver Island U
December 7, 2012
NANAIMO—CUPE support workers at Vancouver Island University have a new tentative agreement. The deal was reached this week after a final bargaining session between VIU and CUPE Local 1858.
CUPE workers get contract at North Island College
COURTENAY—CUPE workers at North Island College have a new tentative collective agreement. The agreement, signed yesterday, is a four-year, no-concessions agreement with four 1 per cent wage hikes spread over the final two years.
CUPE colleges construct framework deal
December 3, 2012
VANCOUVER—Three days of intense bargaining has produced a provincial framework deal for CUPE college support workers. The template for agreement was reached late Sunday night by the College and Institutes Support Staff Bargaining Association (CISSBA) and the government’s BC Post Secondary Employers' Association.
College support workers launch three days of job actions
November 27, 2012
VICTORIA – CUPE college support workers are launching three days of job actions tomorrow aimed at getting the government to sign a collective agreement. The actions by CUPE’s 3,000 college workers will range from shutting down specific departments to demonstrations outside local MLA’s offices.
BC Colleges out together two days for twos
Two sides to meet tomorrow
November 21, 2012
COMOX—Neither snow, nor sleet nor driving rain could keep CUPE college support workers from their appointed rounds on the picket line yesterday and today across the province (See photo gallery). The two days of strike action follow two years without a contract. The campuses were virtually all shut down, with CUPE locals reporting that few students crossed the picket lines.
More BC colleges behind picket lines
November 20, 2012
VICTORIA–Five more BC community colleges are on strike. The job action comes after failed last minute efforts by CUPE to get the provincial government to sign off on collective agreements with BC’s 3,000 CUPE college support workers.
BC College workers poised for Tuesday Strike
NANAIMO – CUPE staff at BC’s colleges are readying for strike action. Tentative plans call for an all-campus walkout starting on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Organizers say they are leaving the door open for the BC government to stop stalling and settle with the 3,000 CUPE support workers who have been without a contract for 2 ½ years .
Impasse prompts strike votes at BC colleges
COURTENAY - CUPE support workers at Camosun and North Island College are the latest to move towards strike action in BC’s post secondary colleges sector.
College of New Caledonia talks tank
PRINCE GEORGE–Contract talks broke off today at the College of New Caledonia. CUPE Local 4951 says the negotiations reached an impasse after the union presented its offer of settlement to the college and were told the college has ‘no money’ for a new contract with its unionized workers.
Wednesday Rally for Striking CUPE workers
VANCOUVER–CUPE National President Paul Moist and CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill plan to join striking support workers from SFU and Vancouver Community College for a rally in downtown Vancouver tomorrow.
CUPE workers pull out of talks at Camosun
November 6, 2012
VICTORIA – Contract talks have broken down between CUPE support workers at Camosun College and the provincial government. The union will take a strike vote on Saturday Nov. 10. The last contract at Camosun expired in 2010.
Government delay puts pickets up at VCC
VANCOUVER—CUPE 4627 members put both Vancouver Community College campuses behind picket lines yesterday. In an unusual move, the employer helped out by closing the facilities and putting up notices that there would be no classes. The faculty association is also on side. Visit the CUPE gallery for photos of CUPE 4627 members on the picket line.
CUPE workers at VCC set to strike
VANCOUVER – CUPE support staff at Vancouver Community College are going on strike. CUPE Local 4627 served 72-hour strike notice this morning for job action starting on Monday with a full withdrawal of services planned for Tuesday.
Stalled college talks prompt strike votes
VANCOUVER—Collective bargaining between BC’s colleges sector and 3,000 CUPE support and teaching staff has been going well, there’s just one hitch – the provincial government. And that hitch is pushing CUPE workers towards strike action.
CUPE launches court action to save college programs
TERRACE – CUPE Local 2409 has filed an action in BC Supreme Court to settle vital programming issues with Northwest Community College. CUPE says NWCC decisions to cancel some courses and eliminate others will hurt students.
UCBC sheds light on ‘shared services’
VANCOUVER – The Universities Coordinated Bargaining Committee wants answers on the provincial government’s latest assault on post secondary jobs. UCBC members from CUPE university locals at UBC, UNBC, SFU, UVic, Royal Roads and TRU met Monday to discuss the implications of the province’s Administrative Service Delivery Transformation Project.
Province launches new assault on post secondary workers
BURNABY—In their latest attack on post secondary education, the BC Liberals are fastracking a new plan to slash jobs and money from BC’s already hemorrhaging college and university budgets.