The B.C. Public Service Agency and the Professional Employees Association have reached a tentative agreement under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, announced Minister of Finance Michael de Jong today.

The tentative agreement covers two years and provides modest wage increases 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 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. 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.

• Under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, agreements have been reached with the BCGEU for the Public Service and at Community Living BC, in the health sector with the BC Nurses Union and the Professional Residents, with faculty at Royal Roads University, and at many of the research universities with support staff unions.

Learn More:

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

Media Contact:

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