Summer Work Sign-up – 2023 (2)

K-12 Presidents Council bulletin bargaining concludes 2023-03-17

Memo #11

Department: Student Support, Human Resources, CUPE

Contact: Student Support, Human Resources, CUPE
Topic: New Class Spec for EA & ABA SW positions

We are nearing the end of our two-year EA and ABA SW cross-training program. The intent of this training is to broaden the scope of work for both EAs and ABA SWs. This will create more flexibility for school teams when planning to support students within each school. This will also allow us to provide more, if not all, bell-to-bell positions in future years.

We are pleased to share that the parties (District and CUPE Local 728) have agreed upon a new unified class specification which will replace the separate EA and ABA SW positions beginning in the new school year, September 2023. The new Inclusive Education Support Worker (IESW) class specification can be found HERE. A notable addition is the inclusion of language which identifies that an IESW “….supports the enhancement of inclusive learning environments in all schools”. This is the shared work of all of us in Surrey Schools.

All EAs and ABA SWs who complete the required cross-training sessions will be eligible to apply to the Inclusive Education Support Worker postings in the future. All EAs and ABA SWs who complete the required cross-training sessions, and are in continuing positions, will be eligible to accept an Inclusive Education Support Worker position through the June staffing entitlement process.

Please ensure that you have completed the required cross training sessions prior to the end of May so that you will be qualified to accept a position or apply to a posting at the June 30IESW posting meeting (if you chose to apply).

If you are an EA wanting to inquire about your progress through the cross-training modules, please email Amanda Tao at tao_s@surreyschools.ca

If you are an ABA SW wanting to inquire about your progress through the cross-training modules, please email Colin Reid at reid_colin@surreyschools.ca

Hello CUPE members,

Please be advised that Payroll is currently working on calculating retro payment as per ratified collective agreement and payment is targeted to be paid March 17. We appreciate your patience while we are working on the calculations as it is a very complex process and we are working hard to ensure its accuracy and request to hold onto any inquiries related to retro pay until it is processed and paid

After some complications in our last hours of bargaining (and with an extension from BCPSEA), CUPE 728 came to a tentative agreement with the Surrey School District just after midnight on the 26^th of January.  The committee was bargaining for 28 days, the last 2 weeks were into the late hours of the night.  Today, January 26, at 3:30pm we signed off on our MOA (Memorandum of Agreement).  I would like to thank the bargaining committee, Theresa Pidcock, Karen Nicoletti, Shannon Levinsky, George Hardy, Amanda Williams, Gaylene Garceau, Andrew Truman, Mark Kawakami, Nora Hooper, Allan Henricks and our National Rep Jocelyn Morgan for putting in such long hours with tireless commitment to the process and to the membership.  They have all paused their lives to help improve the working conditions for all members.  Although we did not get everything we were fighting for, we did make large gains and had no concessions.

Thank you for your patience. The MOA will be sent out as soon as possible.

In Solidarity,

Tammy Murphy,

On behalf of the bargaining committee.

It is after 11:30pm on Thursday night and I am writing on behalf of your bargaining committee to announce that we are cancelling the Special meeting scheduled for this Saturday January 21^st.  Unfortunately, we have not yet come to an agreement with the Employer.  While we are scheduled to resume bargaining tomorrow, we do not anticipate that we will arrive at a memorandum of agreement with the Employer in time to send out to you, the members, with time to review prior to Saturday’s scheduled meeting. Please keep watching for updates as we are in a critical time at the bargaining table.  The bargaining committee is asking for your support while we continue to push the issues that you mandated us to bargain on. Please be aware that pursuant to the notice served at the January 18^th general meeting, the new Ratification date will either be Saturday February 4^th or 11^th. The meeting will be held on Zoom. 

Thank you for your support, on behalf of your bargaining committee

Thank you for your support, on behalf of your bargaining committee

EA 2 seizure management

*** Any members who put in for a transportation failure leave on December 20, please contact your shop steward with your Name, employee number, department and if you were denied or approved. ***

Thank you.