The board of the Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA) has ratified two vocational faculty agreements reached under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate, Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology Minister John Yap announced today.

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

About two-thirds 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 more than one-third of all agreements.

Following local ratification by union members and college boards, the PSEA board provided the final sign-off on the agreements between Selkirk College BCGEU Local 709, and Camosun College and the BCGEU Local 701. These agreements cover more than 250 vocational faculty working at the two institutions.

In December, the PSEA reached a template agreement on wages. The template 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.

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 -

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

"I would like to recognize the efforts on both sides of the tables in reaching these agreements."

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"About two-thirds of unionized employees in B.C.'s public sector are now covered under negotiated settlements, despite the tough fiscal environment. These agreements show significant progress is being made under the 2012 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 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 kindergarten-to-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