A tentative compensation template agreement between the Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA) and the BCGEU has been reached under the Cooperative Gains Mandate Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology Minister John Yap announced today.

The two-year agreement provides for modest wage increases, which are being funded from savings found within existing budgets, as required under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

More than half of the people working in B.C.'s public sector now have tentative or ratified agreements settled under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate. This represents about one-third of all agreements.

The template agreement on wages covers BCGEU faculty members, most of which are vocational, at a number of institutions in the sector. Current signatories include Camosun College, Northern Lights College, Northwest Community College, Okanagan College and Selkirk College. These institutions have concluded tentative settlements with their union locals and are proceeding through the ratification process.

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, while 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 -

"A tentative compensation template agreement has been reached between the Post-Secondary Employers' Association and the BCGEU representing faculty in the post-secondary sector."

"I congratulate the parties for reaching this important milestone in the bargaining process."

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"More than half of unionized employees are now covered under negotiated settlements, despite the tough fiscal environment. These agreements show significant progress is being made under the Cooperative Gains Mandate."

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

Quick Facts:

• The 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 kindergarten - Grade 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 Finance
250 356-9872

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology
250 952-6400