蹤獲扞⑹ and CUPE 2278 ratify collective agreement

Media Release

CUPE 2278 and 蹤獲扞⑹ ratified a three-year collective agreement consistent with the Shared Recovery mandate.

Snow covered tree in front of the Teaching in Learning building on a blue sky winter day

This is a joint release sent from CUPE 2278 and 蹤獲扞⑹ 

Prince George, B.C. 蹤獲扞⑹ (蹤獲扞⑹) and CUPE 2278 have successfully ratified their second collective agreement consistent with the provincial governments Shared Recovery Mandate. CUPE Local 2278 represents approximately 100 Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) at 蹤獲扞⑹. 

We are very pleased that the bargaining process was done in a mutually amicable fashion and that we continue to foster positive working relationships with 蹤獲扞⑹, said Lisa Koetke, Chairperson - CUPE 2278 Component III. As our second negotiated collective agreement with 蹤獲扞⑹, this settlement demonstrates the growth of the relationship between the parties.

The parties reached a tentative agreement on Jan. 23; CUPE 2278 members ratified the agreement on Jan. 25 and 蹤獲扞⑹s Board of Governors ratified the agreement on Jan 27. 

Graduate Teaching Assistants play a vital role at 蹤獲扞⑹, providing support for faculty and students while contributing to the excellence of 蹤獲扞⑹s academic programming, said 蹤獲扞⑹ President and Vice-Chancellor Geoff Payne. The priorities of both parties were addressed in this agreement, which is a hallmark of collective bargaining. On behalf of the 蹤獲扞⑹ community, I thank the bargaining teams for their commitment to the process and for all they do each day to contribute to 蹤獲扞⑹s continued success.

Highlights of the collective agreement include the following: 

  • A three-year term (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025).
  • General wage increases in line with the
    • Year 1 a flat increase of $0.25/hour which provides a greater percentage increase for lower-paid employees, plus 3.24%
    • Year 2 5.5% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 6.75%
    • Year 3 2% plus a potential Cost of Living Adjustment to a maximum of 3%
  • Added an article to support Indigenous employee leave of up to 2 days.
  • The University provides members $100 per GTA towards benefits. 
  • Added a Letter of Understanding (LOU) meant to address barriers and start discussions surrounding GTA recruitment and retention.
  • Added a process to address Graduate Teaching Assistant workload concerns
  • Added an LOU regarding guiding principles for GTA hiring criteria.
  • Provisions for Office space for the Union to conduct business.
  • The Collective Agreement uses 100% gender-neutral language.
  • Migrated the Collective Agreement to digital delivery as opposed to print.