VICTORIA - The provincial bargaining committee, working with the British Columbia Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) and the unions representing education support staff have reached a provincial framework agreement under the 2014 Economic Stability Mandate.

The agreement covers a five-year term, from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019. It provides for wage increases in keeping with the Economic Stability Mandate 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 during the last four years of the agreement.

Following local bargaining within the districts, ratification by union members and the BCPSEA board will be required to finalize the agreements. This framework agreement covers about 34,000 support staff, most of which are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The government’s Economic Stability Mandate provides public-sector employers with 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 between sectors and reflect government’s priorities of having labour stability, affordable service delivery, and a balanced budget.

Further details on the agreement will be available Monday, June 9, 2014, at: www.bcpsea.bc.ca

Quote:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

“I want to congratulate the support staff unions, led by CUPE, and school districts and BCPSEA on reaching this negotiated framework agreement. It required some tough bargaining but both sides were realistic, flexible and willing to find solutions at the table.

“This is wonderful news for support workers and their families. From educational assistants who help children with special needs, to bus drivers, custodial staff and office administrators, our students would not flourish and our schools could not function without them.”

Quick Facts:

• The new 2014 Economic Stability Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expired on or after Dec. 31, 2013.
• If the province’s real GDP growth exceeds forecasts over the terms of these agreements, the agreements provide 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 budget.
• For example if real GDP growth is one percentage point above forecast real GDP growth, then a 0.5% wage increase would result, beyond whatever wage increase had been negotiated in the contract.
• There are ratified agreements in place between the BCGEU and the Public Service, with Community Health, Community Social Services and the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications & Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963