Two more agreements have been ratified at the University of Victoria under the Cooperative Gains Mandate with CUPE Local 4163 (Components I & II) and with the Professional Employees Association, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap announced today.

The agreement with CUPE Local 4163 (Components I & II) represents approximately 1,500 employees including teaching assistants, lab instructors, English Language studies instructors in continuing studies, and computer lab assistants. It covers four years and includes zero per cent wage increases for the first two years, consistent with the 2010 Net Zero Mandate.

Component I includes wage increases of one per cent effective: Sept. 1, 2012, March 13, 2013, Sept. 1, 2013, and March 1, 2014. Component II will also receive a two per cent general wage increase effective Nov. 1, 2012, and Sept. 1, 2013. Modest wage increases in this settlement were funded from savings found within existing budgets, as required by the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

The agreement with the Professional Employees Association represents about 950 non-faculty, administrative and academic professionals working in positions including counsellors, instructors, system analysts, fundraisers, scientific technicians, engineers, advisers and other areas. The PEA's settlement covers two years and includes general wage increases of two per cent on July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, funded from savings found within existing budgets as required under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

The B.C. 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 funded from savings within existing budgets, not adding costs to taxpayers and ratepayers, and not sacrificing services.

Settlements under the 2012 mandate are expected to be unique between sectors and between employers in some sectors.

Quotes:

Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap -

"These agreements show that the Cooperative Gains Mandate is working and savings can be found within existing budgets to fund modest wage increases."

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

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

"This mandate provides the opportunity for employers and unions to find creative solutions, and this means no two settlements are going to be alike. We are going to see unique settlements in every sector and with each employer."

Quick Facts:

• The new 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expired on or after Dec. 31, 2011.
• 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.
• To date, more than one-quarter of people working in B.C.'s public sector now have tentative or ratified agreements settled under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

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