COVID-19

During these challenging and disruptive times, the PEA is still online and providing service and support to our members. The PEA office will be closed until at least March 29. You can view all PEA updates here.

Updates by chapter

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SMS — St. Margaret's School

The PEA was certified in August, 2000 to represent the teachers of St. Margaret's School.

In December, 2000 the certification was varied to include a group of support staff employees at the school. In April of 2002, the certification was again varied to include cooks, chefs, kitchen helpers and laundry workers. The chapter currently includes teachers and support workers at the school, including bus drivers and office and maintenance staff.

One of Canada's leading non-denominational schools for girls, St. Margaret's provides young women with education from Kindergarten to Grade Twelve and has programs for ESL students. St. Margaret's School is located in Victoria.

At Your Fingertips

Need Help?

Your Labour Relations Officer is:
Rhiannon Bray 250-385-8791 ext 204

Your Local Reps are:

Junior School. Includes: After School Care, Library, Junior School Office, Tutorial Staff
Anne Maki, 250-479-7171

Middle Years. Includes: Tutorial Staff
Bev Waterfield, 250-479-7171

Office Support. Includes: Development, Dudley's Closet, Finance, Networks, Senior School Office
Caryn Drabitt, 250-479-7171

Boarding
Vacant

Senior School. Includes: Tutorial Staff
Sonny Wilson, 250-479-7171

Services Support. Includes: Grounds, Kitchen, Laundry, Maintenance, Transport
Vacant

SMS Executive

Chairperson: Bev Waterfield

Vice-Chairperson: Vacant

Secretary-Treasurer: Michael Keddy

Member-at-Large: Sonny Wilson

Member-at-Large: Vacant

All executive members can be reached at St. Margaret's School, 250-479-7171.

Your Collective Agreement

The fifth collective agreement between the Professional Employees Association and St. Margaret's School is available in PDF format. The following is revised to Include Residence Staff effective June 18, 2014.

SMS Collective Agreement | July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021

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SMS News

COVID-19 Update for SMS Members

Friday, March 13, 2020

Dear SMS members,

The PEA has been closely monitoring the continually changing COVID-19 pandemic.

SMS Chapter News | September

Friday, September 20, 2019

In the September newsletter find information on the SMS Executive, your Labour Relations Officer, the date of the AGM, contract increases for the 2019/2020 school year and support for professional

SMS Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Dear SMS members,

SMS Constitution

ARTICLE IV — Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the SMS Chapter shall consist of six members; a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and four Directors at-Large.

The Executive Committee shall each year appoint, from among the Directors a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Chairperson and two directors are elected for two-year terms in even numbered years. The Vice Chairperson and two directors are elected for two-year terms in odd numbered years. At least one director position will be designated as a support staff position. If no support member is nominated, the position may be filled by a tutorial staff member.

The SMS Chapter shall rotate its entitlement to appoint an Association Executive member with other Association chapters as determined by the Association Executive, on an annual basis. When it is entitled to do so, the Executive Committee shall appoint by motion an Association Executive member from among the members of the Executive Committee. The term of appointment shall be one year, effective at the close of the Annual Association Convention in odd-numbered years, and effective on June 1 in even-numbered years.

ARTICLE V — Duties of the Executive

The Chairperson will preside over SMS Chapter meetings and, in his/her absence, the Vice Chairperson will preside. The Chairperson will have overall responsibility for the general and active management of the business of the Chapter and will enforce and abide by the provisions of the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws.

The Vice Chairperson will assume duties as may be determined by the Chairperson or Executive. Should the Chairperson refuse to act, be absent or disabled, the Executive will vest all the powers and duties of the Chairperson in the Vice Chairperson.

The Secretary will prepare and disseminate notices and agendas of all Executive and Chapter meetings, keep an accurate record of all Executive and Chapter meetings, act as Parliamentarian at all Chapter meetings, act as Archivist for -all Chapter matters, and assume other duties as may be determined by the Executive.

The Treasurer will keep full and accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements of the Chapter, and deposit all moneys and disburse the funds of the Chapter under the direction of the Executive.

At least three members of the Executive Committee will act as the Bargaining Committee for the SMS Chapter. The duties of the Bargaining Committee are to:

Identify and represent the needs of the members;
Research and develop bargaining positions;
Assist the Professional Employees Association in negotiating collective agreements.

ARTICLE VII — Chapter Executive Elections

The Elections Committee will consist of at least three members appointed by the Executive Committee from solicited volunteers of the SMS Chapter at the Annual General Meeting, and is accountable only to the membership. When any member resigns, is absent or otherwise fails to perform the duties set out in this article, the Executive may appoint a replacement.

Vacant Executive positions will be filled by the candidates receiving the highest number of votes.

If a member of the Elections Committee wishes to accept a nomination for the Executive, the member will first resign from the Committee.

Powers and Duties of the Elections Committee:

The Elections Committee conducts Executive elections by mail and by secret ballot and other necessary votes, in accordance with the Association Constitution and By-Laws.
For Executive elections, the Elections Committee will:
- Accept nominations put forward by any member;
- Circulate to the Membership a list of candidates;
- Circulate the ballot two weeks prior to Election date;
- Receive ballots up to noon of the day the balloting closes, normally the day preceding the Annual General Meeting;
- Count ballots on the afternoon of the day balloting closes; and,
- Report results the day after balloting closes, normally at the Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII — Delegate Elections

The Elections Committee shall also prepare a list of candidates for the delegates to the Convention of the Association who have signified that they are willing to represent the Chapter at convention. Normally, SMS Chapter shall be represented at convention by a member of the Executive Committee and a member-at-large. Nominations may be put forward to the Elections Committee by any member of the SMS Chapter.

The Elections Committee shall put the list of standing delegate candidates to the general membership for their vote. Ballots shall be delivered to each member or mailed to his/her last known address not later than 60 days prior to the Convention of the Association. The date by which the ballot is to be returned shall precede the Annual Convention by at least 45 days.

ARTICLE IX — Removal From Office

Members of the Executive may be removed from office before the expiration of their term of office. A call for removal must be signed by 30 percent of the membership and forwarded to the Chairperson, with a copy to the Secretary. A Special Meeting must be called to discuss the issue. After the meeting, ballots will be circulated to the membership by the Elections Committee. The Elections Committee will count the ballots and report the binding results to the Executive. The impeachment will succeed only if supported by two thirds of the ballots cast.

In the event of removal, resignation, or a vacancy on the Executive Committee for any reason, the Committee shall initiate an election to fill the vacancy if more than three months remain in the term of the vacant position.

In this section

The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.

Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.

Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.

Resources for our members

Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.

Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.

Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.

The heart of our union

The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.

Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.

Professionals need unions now more then ever

Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.

We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.

The Professional | Volume 46 Issue 1

The Professional is the PEA's award-winning, quarterly magazine for members.

The January-February 2020 issue includes a Vancouver Sun op/ed piece from PEA Executive Director Scott McCannell on the Legal Services Society strike.

Read the January-February 2020 issue

The PEA was formed in 1974 to represent licensed professionals in the BC Public Service. Since then the organization has grown to include a wide range of professionals from across BC. Find our more about our governance, staff and strategic direction.