Members of the Community Social Services Bargaining Association have ratified the agreement reached with the Community Social Services Employers' Association under the government's 2010 mandate, announced Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.

This agreement covers approximately 14,000 employees, working for more than 200 contracted agencies, who deliver services to British Columbia's most vulnerable citizens.

Government announced its intention to control spending on wages for public sector agreements that expired in 2010 and 2011 through a net-zero cost mandate for collective bargaining. To protect jobs and preserve services essential to British Columbians, government does not have funding for wage increases as collective agreements are renewed.

Quotes:

Minister of Children and Family Development Mary McNeil -

"This agreement supports the essential services needed for children, youth and families in this province. The people working to provide community social services have shown their continued commitment to the clients they serve by ratifying this agreement."

Quick Facts:

• B.C.'s public sector has approximately 307,000 unionized workers, who provide our province with vital services.
• To date, about two-thirds of those employees have successfully re-negotiated agreements under the current net-zero mandate.

Learn More:

Updated bargaining information is available at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/psec/

Contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Manager
Ministry of Finance
250 356-9872