Prince George, B.C.-  The Provincial Government says it has reached the half way point  in wrapping up new contracts with unionized public sector workers.

More than one quarter  of collective agreements up for negotiation have tentative or ratified settlements in place.

There are  about 300,000 unionized workers employed in the public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, and in the kindergarten-to-Grade 12, post-secondary, research universities, health and community social services sectors. The 51 collective agreements with tentative or ratified settlements cover approximately 152,700 employees.

All of the agreements provide for modest wage increases, which are  being funded from savings found within existing budgets, as required under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

These agreements under the 2012 mandate are  are different at each table, depending on an employer’s ability to fund increases from savings within existing budgets.

It remains to be seen what will happen with School District 57.  The Minister of Education  issued a directive that  all school boards  find 1.5% in savings  so the money could be shifted to  the support staff  contract.  But School District 57 Trustees have  said the request comes too late in the fiscal year,  and have called upon the Minister to withdraw that request.