Greetings!
Your VSB bargaining committee met with the employer on Monday, May 12 and Thursday, May 21, 2025 in order to exchange proposals, execute a bargaining protocol agreement as well as review each other’s proposals regarding housekeeping matters.
On your behalf, the committee communicated to the employer that we are still seeking improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions, with a strong emphasis on safety and workload.
The parties worked through several housekeeping matters, primarily involving typos and structural corrections to certain articles carried over from the last round of bargaining.
Once all housekeeping matters are finalized, we will turn our attention to our non-monetary proposals.
There were no surprises on Monday. The employer, as predicted, is claiming financial hardship!
The union feels this is solely of their own doing as a result of an over-inflated management structure, thus taking valuable dollars away from student services and addressing the needs of our members to provide the care you all proudly provide.
Future bargaining dates are being scheduled, but we are a long way from discussing compensation & benefits.
The employer has been instructed by BCPSEA (BC Public School Employers’ Association) that they are not permitted to bargain premiums or benefits with us until they have concluded the Provincial K-12 round of bargaining (they are in bargaining as well right now).
To clarify, the union will not be bargaining premiums or benefits until the Provincial K-12 Committee has concluded bargaining wages.
Several public sector unions are also facing the same challenges from their employers as we are, but we are all united in our determination to bargain a fair and respectful collective agreement for everyone!
We will continue to keep you updated as bargaining progresses. However, please remember that this can be a long process, and our priority is to get it right—not just to get it done quickly.
Thank you again for all your support and input.
In Solidarity,
Your VSB Bargaining Committee:
Warren Williams, President
Debbie Mohabir, Chair
Vanessa Mani, Co-Chair
Randy Horton
Suzette Magri
Sheri Nielsen
Cynthia Schadt
Kathie Currie, Lead Spokesperson
VSB Bargaining Bulletin – May 28, 2025
