January 21/98

College and institute employers set

stage for talks with faculty unions

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ixteen colleges and institutes

have agreed to seek a new
Protocol Agreement as the first step
that might lead to multi-employer
discussions with faculty associations
and unions.

“While each participating college
and institute will retain its individual
labor code certification, a number of
employers are looking to address
some common issues without
jeopardizing the unique service they
provide to the regions of British
Columbia,” said Leo Perra,
president of the Post Secondary
Employers’ Association.

Collective agreements for faculty
and vocational staff at 17 post-
secondary facilities will expire on
March 31, 1998. These agreements
incorporate a multi-institutional
framework agreement that provides a

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common salary grid, a job post registry
and a labor adjustment fund.

“In order for these discussions to take
place, the Employers’ Association
believes that a protocol agreement is a
necessary first step so that both sides
know which topics will be discussed in
multi-institutional talks,” Leo states.
“Items that are not included in the
protocol agreement will be dealt with at
the local level. If a protocol agreement
is arrived at, provincial discussions will
start, at the conclusion of which local
bargaining will take place.”

The resolution adopted by the PSEA
board will require participating colleges
to ratify both the joint employer-union
protocol and any subsequent agreement
arising out of multi-institutional
discussions with faculty association
representatives.

The participating colleges and

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Gordon Lancaster

institutes are: Capilano College,
College of New Caledonia, College of
the Rockies, Douglas College, Justice
Institute of B.C., Kwantlen University
College, Langara College, Malaspina
University College, Northern Lights
College, North Island College,
Northwest Community College,
Okanagan University College, Selkirk
College, University College of the
Cariboo, University College of the
Fraser Valley and Vancouver
Community College.

Institutions which have opted to
remain in a local bargaining process
will coordinate their efforts with the
main group of 16.

The PSEA was established in 1994 to
coordinate labor relations and human
resource practices amongst its member
employers in the college and institute
system.

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