University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus and its BCGEU staff have reached a tentative settlement under the Economic Stability Mandate, Minister of Finance Michael de Jong announced today.

This five-year tentative agreement covers approximately 500 BCGEU non-faculty staff, teaching assistants and markers. This is the first tentative agreement reached under the Economic Stability Mandate in the research university sector.

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.

Currently, there are over 150,000 public-sector employees covered by tentative or ratified agreements negotiated under the Economic Stability mandate. This represents almost half of all unionized employees in B.C.

Details of the agreement will be available once the ratification process is complete.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

“It’s encouraging to see more public-sector employees reach fair and long-term agreements. Labour stability in our province is highly valued both by taxpayers and outside investors. These agreements reward the hardworking public-sector employees and benefit the people of British Columbia.”

“Every agreement like this reached under the Economic Stability Mandate is a great milestone. It is important that we come to these longer-term agreements within a fixed fiscal envelope while providing the opportunity for employees to participate in B.C.’s economic growth.”

Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk −

“Today’s announcement marks the first tentative agreement reached in the research university sector and covers around 500 staff. I congratulate all of the parties involved in reaching this important milestone in the bargaining process as it benefits the staff, the institution and the students.”

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 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 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.

Learn More:

An up-to-date listing of tentative and ratified agreements under the Economic Stability Mandate is available at: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/psec/

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Rodney Porter
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 889-7494

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