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.