There's a  new contract for more than 40,000 K-12 support staff in BC’s schools.

Unionized support staff work in the province's 60 school districts, including as education assistants, Indigenous support workers, custodians, trades and maintenance workers, clerical, accounting, and in information technology.

The new deal, effective last summer, runs through to July 2025, and includes general wage increases in each year of the agreement; a flat increase of $0.25 per hour this year, which provides a greater percentage increase for lower-paid employees, plus a wage increase of 3.24%.

The parties began local bargaining after the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, the K-12 Presidents' Council and support staff unions reached a tentative provincial framework agreement last September.

The second and third years of the agreement include raises and potential cost-of-living adjustments.

The deal also includes a promise to participate in any discussions regarding standardized credentials for education assistants.