Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association have now ratified a two-year agreement under the government's 2010 mandate, announced Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.

The agreement covers approximately 500 full-time employees, including faculty-instructors, counsellors, librarians and instructional support employees at TRU.

More than 90 per cent of university faculty across B.C. are now covered by agreements negotiated under the 2010 mandate, including the University of British Columbia, Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, the University of Northern British Columbia and TRU.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Kevin Falcon:

"Congratulations to TRU and the TRU Faculty Association for ratifying an agreement that was negotiated in challenging times. Thank you to the negotiators for their hard work that resulted in this positive outcome."

Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto:

"I am very pleased with the outcome of these negotiations. Thompson Rivers University is a strong contributor to B.C.'s post-secondary sector and to the Kamloops and Thompson/Okanagan region. I appreciate the quality education TRU provides for students and families."

TRU president and vice-chancellor Alan Shaver:

"We are extremely pleased to have come to an agreement. This partnership with our faculty continues our tradition of academic excellence and quality student experience."

Quick Facts:

* Government has already announced its intention to control spending on wages during this round of bargaining. To protect jobs and preserve vital services British Columbians depend on, government does not have any funding for new wage increases as collective agreements are renewed.

* There are approximately 306,000 unionized workers in occupations throughout B.C.'s public sector, the great majority of which have agreements that expired between March 31, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010.

* More than two-thirds of those employees have now renegotiated agreements that were set to expire in 2010, including agreements covering 99 per cent of health-care workers.

Learn More:

Updated bargaining information is available at:

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/psec/bargaining2010/

Contact:

Jamie Edwardson

Communications Manager

Ministry of Finance

250 356-9872

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect