Two tentative agreements have been reached under the Cooperative Gains Mandate between the University of Victoria and the Professional Employees Association (PEA), as well as between the University of British Columbia and CUPE Local 2950, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap announced today.

The PEA represents about 950 non-faculty administrative and academic professionals working as counsellors, instructors, system analysts, fundraisers, scientific technicians, engineers and advisers at the University of Victoria. The two-year agreement provides for modest wage increases, which, as required under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, are being funded from savings found within existing budgets.

The tentative agreement reached by UBC with CUPE Local 2950 covers 1,700 clerical, secretarial, library, and Chan Centre for the Performing Arts staff at the Vancouver campus. This agreement covers four years: two years under the 2010 Net Zero Mandate and two years with a modest wage increase found within the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

Government has been clear that there is no new money to fund wage increases and there is no desire to download these costs onto families or future generations. The Cooperative Gains Mandate provides public sector employers with the ability to negotiate modest wage increases savings within existing budgets. Settlements under the 2012 mandate are expected to be unique between sectors and between employers in some sectors.

No further details on the agreements will be available until ratification is complete.

Quotes:

Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap -

"I would like to thank the negotiators on both sides of the table for their hard work in making these agreements happen. These agreements show that the Cooperative Gains Mandate can work at B.C.'s universities, and I'm hopeful that negotiators at other tables will be able to reach agreements soon."

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"The tentative agreements announced in the past month show significant progress is being made under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, despite the tough fiscal environment."

I encourage employers and unions across the public sector to continue negotiating because agreements can be reached."

Quick Facts:

• The new 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate applies to all public sector employers whose collective agreements expired on or after Dec. 31, 2011.

• Under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, tentative agreements have been reached with the BCGEU for the public service, the BC Nurses Union, Professional Residents of BC and with support staff unions at two research universities.

• About 300,000 unionized workers are employed in the public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, and in the K-12, post-secondary, health and community social services sectors.

Learn More:

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

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6508

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821