More than 16,000 unionized professionals working in the health sector have a five-year contract in place under the B.C. government's Economic Stability Mandate for 2014 negotiations, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced today.

The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association and the Heath Employers Association of B.C. have ratified the agreement negotiated in November, four months in advance of the current agreement's expiry on March 31, 2014.

The term of the new agreement is from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2019. It provides for a modest 5.5 per cent wage increase over the five years of the term, with potential for additional increases if the B.C. economy exceeds the annual forecasts set by the Economic Forecast Council.

The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association represents more than 16,000 front-line health workers in more than 100 different specialized disciplines that provide diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation services. The diverse membership ranges from medical laboratory technologists to physiotherapists to social workers. The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association covers several unions including the Health Sciences Association, BCGEU, CUPE, PEA and HEU.

The 2014 Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expire on or after Dec. 31, 2013. Currently, another three agreements are in the ratification process.

The government's Economic Stability Mandate provides public-sector employers the ability to negotiate longer-term agreements within a fixed fiscal envelope, and offers employees an opportunity to participate in the province's economic growth. Settlements are expected to be unique and to reflect priorities negotiated to ensure labour stability and affordable service delivery throughout B.C.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"Reaching a longer-term agreement provides stability for employees, employers and the British Columbians who depend on the important services this sector delivers. The agreement also protects taxpayers by ensuring that any additional wage increases will be tied to real growth in the economy."

"This agreement is unique to the needs of the employers and employees, and I expect we will see that pattern continue with subsequent agreements. It is the product of give-and-take at the bargaining table, but it reflects the common desire to support and improve the delivery of quality services at an affordable and manageable cost to taxpayers within the government's balanced budget."

Quick Facts:

• The new 2014 Economic Stability Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expire on or after Dec. 31, 2013.
• If the province's real GDP growth exceeds forecasts over the term of the agreement, the agreement provides for the sharing of some benefits of that growth with the public-sector employees who work on behalf of British Columbians and help make that growth possible.
• Under this proposal, employees would receive a conditional, incremental wage increase equal to half of any percentage-point gain in real GDP growth above the Economic Forecast Council's forecast published in the February Budgets.
• For example, if actual real GDP growth is one percentage point above forecast real GDP growth, then a 0.5 per cent wage increase would result, beyond whatever wage increase had been negotiated in the contract.
• In the case of a worker earning $50,000 a year, that's an additional $250 per year if the economy outperforms the expectations of the forecast council by one percentage point.
• There are about 302,000 unionized employees working in the public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, and in the K-12, post-secondary, health and community social services sectors.

Learn More:

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

For an audio clip of Minister of Finance Michael de Jong, please click on the following link: http://bit.ly/19DhRmj

Media Contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821