Glossary

This glossary consists of descriptions of acronyms and commonly used terms on the www.makeafuture.ca website.

Service Providers and Professional Associations

British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association | BCPSEA

A multi-employer association and the accredited bargaining agent for all 60 public school boards, including the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.  BCPSEA’s core purpose is to support public education through innovative human resource practices, partnerships, and services.

British Columbia Principals’and Vice-Principals Association | BCPVPA

The professional association for principals and vice-principals in most districts in British Columbia.

British Columbia Association of School Business Officials | BCASBO

The professional association of business officials working in BC school districts. The membership includes Secretary-Treasurers, Assistant Secretary-Treasurers, Comptrollers, Payroll and Benefits Supervisors, Managers of Human Resources, Accountants, Information Systems Managers.

British Columbia School Superintendent’s Association | BCSSA

A professional association which represents more than 250 members which include Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Directors of Instruction, etc.

BC School Trustees’ Association | BCSTA

The advocacy association for locally elected school trustees. It advocates for effective public boards of education and quality public education in British Columbia.

Community Social Services Employers’ Association | CSSEA

A provider of human resources and labour relations expertise to over 200 member social service organizations, ranging in size from under 10 to more than 600 employees and collectively employing more than 15,000 people.

First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) | FNESC

The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) is an independent society led by a strong and diverse board of about 100 First Nations community representatives. FNESC is committed to improving education for all First Nations students in BC.

First Nations Schools Association | FNSA

An independent, non-profit society and charity serving approximately 130 First Nations community schools in British Columbia.

Teacher Regulation Branch, Ministry of Education | TRB

The regulator of certified teachers in British Columbia

Teacher Qualification Service | TQS

An organization whose primary function is to assist teachers and their employing school boards in establishing the qualifications of teachers for salary purposes.

TherapyBC | www.therapybc.ca

A web site funded by the Children and Youth with Special Needs Branch of the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.  It acts as a free job posting resource for non-profit publicly funded agencies delivering paediatric therapy services to children and youth with special needs in BC.  The focus of the site is employment opportunities for Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists.

Vancouver Association of Secondary School Administrators | VASSA

The professional association for principals and vice-principals in Vancouver secondary schools.

Vancouver Elementary Principals and Vice-Principals Association | VEPVPA

The professional association for principals and vice-principals in Vancouver elementary schools.

WorkSafeBC | www.worksafebc.com

BC Agency dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety for the workers and employers of British Columbia

Trade Unions and Employees’ Representatives

Bargaining Council of Vancouver School Board Construction and Maintenance Trades Unions

A council of trade unions in the Vancouver School District that comprised of trades employees

British Columbia Government and Service Employees Union | BCGEU

One of the largest and most diverse unions in British Columbia representing approximately 65,000 members in 550 bargaining units in the private sector and public services.

British Columbia Teachers’ Federation | BCTF

The trade union of that represents the province’s public school teachers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. All public school teachers belong to the BCTF and their local teachers’ association.

Canadian Union of Public Employees | CUPE

Representatives of support staff employees in the public education sector – this includes trades, clerical, IT, maintenance and student support workers.

Construction, Maintenance and Allied Workers’ | CMAW

A diverse union of over 7.000 members including carpenters, carpenter apprentices, lathers, millwrights, floorlayers, piledrivers, industrial workers and many other construction trades and school board employees

International Brotherhood of Teamsters | IBT

North America’s strongest and most diverse labour union.

International Union of Operating Engineers | IUOE

An association representing support staff employees United Steelworkers Represents support staff employees

West Vancouver Municipal Employees’ Association | WVMEA

An association that maintains and protects working conditions and advocates for just and reasonable wages, salaries and benefits for WVMEA members

Other Commonly Used Acronyms

AIT | Agreement on Internal Trade

The Agreement on Internal Trade is a governmental trade agreement aiming to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services, and investment within Canada and to establish an open, efficient and stable domestic market.

TILMA | Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement

Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement is a partnership between the government of Alberta and British Columbia designed to give each province greater and more secure access to the other’s market for business, investors, and workers.

TTOC | Teacher Teaching On Call

Teacher Teaching On Call, in other parts of Canada sometimes referred to as a teacher on call, substitute teacher, supply teacher or occasional teachers, replace teachers during short-term absences.

ESA | Employment Standards Act

Legislation enacted by the provincial government of British Columbia to protect the rights of working people.

FOIPPA | Freedom Of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Legislation to make public bodies more open and accountable by providing the public with a legislated right of access to government records, and to protect your right to personal privacy by prohibiting the unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of your personal information by public bodies.

LRC | Labour Relations Code

VILRC | Vancouver Island Labour Relations Council

OLRC | Okanagan Labour Relations Council