Welcome to CUPE 459

We are here to support YOU, in many ways.

Curious about why we wear red? 

Going forward, the Sooke Teachers Association and CUPE 459 are encouraging members to wear red on Mondays to show their support for our respective Provincial Bargaining Teams as they work to secure a fair deal for us all. Share your photos with the hashtag #RedForBCED, #CUPE 459 or send an email directly to cupelocal459@gmail.com.

You can also post pictures to our Facebook group CUPE 459 – Sooke School Support Staff https://www.facebook.com/groups/1224888634308724

The #RedForEd movement has a long history in the labour movement.  In 1989, telephone workers were on strike (for 17 weeks). During the strike, a union worker was hit by a car driven by a scab while walking the picket line. Unfortunately, he died from these injuries. Shortly after the incident, wearing red was established to show solidarity and to remember the workers who have lost their lives fighting for better working conditions.

The connections to education have roots in the States, where low wages and poor working conditions were often associated with red states. Financially, public schools are often “in the red,” indicating financial crisis. As such, red became a colour associated with education within the labour movement and the #RedForEd movement is something that is now seen across North America.

  • The only way that we can guarantee improvements to public education is if we put improvements in the contract and make them legally binding.
  • We are looking for more learning support teachers, more counsellors, and more EAs to make sure students have what they need to succeed in very diverse and complex classrooms.
  • Did you know private schools also receive public funding – a lot of it? They could pull that money out of those schools and put it into the public system.
  • Kids deserve really great public schools where there is lots of opportunity to shine and support to go around.
  • I am in a union and that means I act collectively with other people to improve things for workers and for the whole community too. All of us wearing red is part of showing we are all in it together.
  • We are wearing red to remind everyone how important schools are and how important kids are too!

In solidarity,

 

General Membership Meeting! - Tolt Middle School PTSA

“Save the Dates”

Notification emails will be sent to members via

Action Network

  • Location:  Dunsmuir Middle School
  • Time:  9:00 am start
  • Dates:
    • February 28
    • April 25
    • May 1 Pro D TBA
    • June 13

We are the Sooke School District 62 Support Staff CUPE Local 459.

We are the Education Assistants, Indigenous Workers, Strong Start and Early Childhood Educators in the classroom, Clerical, Payroll & Finance, Library Technicians, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Trades, Grounds, Information Technology, Crossing Guards, Communication and Student Engagement Facilitators.

We provide a safe, clean and desirable place to work and learn.

CUPE Local 459 is proud to have this website up and running to support you and keep everyone informed with any changes that may arise.

This page will also connect you with contacts to the Executive and your departmental Shop Stewards as well as committee representatives.

Our workers support every part of student life.  We make sure our children get to school safely.  We make sure they have a first-rate learning environment when they’re there.  And we support their education at every stage.

We’re facing tough times together, and that’s when we need affordable, reliable public services the most.