The BC Oil and Gas Commission and members of both the Professional Employees Association and the BCGEU have now ratified their agreements reached under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate, Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Minister Rich Coleman announced today.

Both 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.

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.

Approximately 30 engineers and geologists represented by the Professional Employees Association now have ratified their agreement.

The BCGEU Local 2010 members ratified their agreement in late December. There are about 160 employees working as inspectors, First Nations liaisons, technical advisers, enforcement officers, file clerks, human resources personnel, and in community relations, communications and information technology.

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 2012 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 Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Rich Coleman -

"These ratifications by the PEA and the BCGEU members mean that bargaining under the 2012 Mandate has been concluded at the BC Oil & Gas Commission."

"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 -

"These agreements show the significant progress that is being made under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate. More than half of unionized employees are now covered under negotiated settlements, 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 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-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/bargaining/index.htm

Media Contacts:

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

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas
250 952-0617