Community Living BC (CLBC) and the BCGEU have ratified a two-year agreement under the Cooperative Gains Mandate, announced Moira Stilwell, Minister of Social Development, today.

The new agreement reached between CLBC and the BCGEU provides modest wage increases of one per cent effective April 1, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, April 1, 2013 and Dec. 1, 2013. The increases are funded from savings found within CLBC's existing administrative budgets, as required under the Cooperative Gains Mandate.

The agreement also includes a two-year job security memorandum, a minor increase in health and welfare benefits of auxiliary employees, and a one-time $100,000 scholarship fund for individuals eligible for CLBC services to have enhanced access to educational support.

The BCGEU represents about 350 unionized workers at CLBC who deliver support and services to adults with developmental disabilities and their families throughout British Columbia.

Funding for this agreement will not impact services to people with developmental disabilities served by CLBC. In addition, funding to agencies providing services will not change as a result of this agreement. 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 Social Development Moira Stilwell, M.D. -

"I am pleased that the BCGEU members and CLBC have voted in favour of this agreement, which recognizes the need to support vulnerable adults in B.C. while respecting B.C's need to limit spending increases."

"I would like to thank the negotiators on both sides of the table for their hard work in making this agreement happen."

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"Despite the challenging fiscal climate, this agreement shows the Cooperative Gains Mandate can lead to settlements without taking more money from taxpayers or reducing services."

"This mandate gives employers and unions the opportunity 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 expire 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 Social Development
250 356-1670
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821