Provincial public-sector employers and employees continue to make progress with affordable collective agreements under the Economic Stability Mandate, as three new tentative agreements, including two in the post-secondary sector, have been reached and a further agreement ratified, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced.

Overall, there are now 129 tentative or ratified agreements under the mandate, covering more than 230,000 employees - nearly three-quarters of provincial public-sector workers.

New tentative five-year agreements:

• Vancouver Community College (VCC) and the Vancouver Community College Faculty Association (VCCFA) have reached a tentative agreement covering approximately 865 VCCFA Federation of Post-Secondary Educators Local 15 members, who deliver courses at both VCC campuses.
• Langara College and the Langara College Faculty Association have reached a tentative agreement covering approximately 585 faculty members, including all instructors, counsellors, co-operative education officers and librarians.
• The B.C. PSA and the Professional Employees Union have reached a tentative agreement covering approximately 1,150 members who work in occupations including forestry, engineering, health care and environmental management through the B.C. public service.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 15 have ratified their five-year agreement with Langara College, effective April 1, 2014 - March 31, 2019, which provides a 5.5% wage increase over the five years of the term. The agreement covers approximately 645 members who work in a variety of positions ranging from information technology, instructional assistants, administration and lab support workers, to library technicians, facilities and other services that support students and the college.

Each settlement offers the 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 agreements.

The government’s Economic Stability Mandate gives 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 through the Economic Stability Dividend. 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 -

“We continue to see great progress negotiating long-term agreements that are fair to both the employees providing the services and to taxpayers. Successful negotiations reflect a recognition of the high value we place on the work of public-sector employees, with the importance of ensuring services are affordable for taxpayers who depend on them.”

Minister of Advanced Education Andrew Wilkinson -

“These agreements are great news for post-secondary students and their communities. Labour agreements provide stability in the sector and mean that students, faculty and staff can focus on education and training.”

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/bargaining/2014%20Bargaining%20Status.pdf

Media Contacts:

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

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400