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The provincial government discriminates against union workers trying to negotiate a collective agreement, the BCGEU charged today. The union released its Top Ten List of college administrators’ pay increases, and announced that rotating job action will move to Kwantlen University College on Friday.
Victoria, BC (20 Jan 2005) - The provincial government discriminates against union workers trying to negotiate a collective agreement, the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union charged today. The union released its Top Ten List of college administrators’ pay increases, and announced that rotating job action will move to Kwantlen University College on Friday.
"The Campbell government gives college administrators pay raises of 20 – 40 percent, then tells our members to make do with nothing," said BCGEU president George Heyman. "Their double standard is troubling, and reeks of hypocrisy.
"The Campbell Liberals have sabotaged our negotiations with their punitive zero wage mandate," Heyman said. "Labour Minister Graham Bruce says he hopes that colleges and workers can negotiate an agreement, but his government has given us nothing to negotiate. If they can approve massive pay raises for bureaucrats, surely our members deserve a fair increase to keep up with inflation."
Financial Information Act statements prepared by the colleges reveal the top ten percentage wage increases for college administrators over the last two fiscal years. Topping the list is Bob McKenzie, Executive Director of Administrative Services at BCIT, who received a 40 percent pay raise, with an annual salary of $112,753.
BCIT administrators hold five positions on the Top Ten List, with increases of 20.4 to 40 percent on salaries ranging from $102,713 to $163,521. Kwantlen College administrators hold three positions on the list, with increases of 22.3 to 24 percent on salaries ranging from $112,165 to $117,622. Douglas College managers hold two positions, with increases of 22.5 to 32.2 percent on salaries ranging from 100,633 to $136,391. For a complete list of college administrators’ salary increases, check the BCGEU web site at www.bcgeu.ca.
"The Campbell Liberals promised to lift the wage freeze after the next election, while sitting on a $2 billion surplus this year. Meanwhile, the government is insisting on applying their public sector wage freeze on workers who have already had wages frozen for five of the last seven years, and only 4.4 percent in the other two – far less than other public sector workers. It’s time they enjoyed the same right to a fair settlement as college administrators."
The union is seeking a seven per cent pay boost in a new four year agreement, and parity measures to give support staff the same access to benefits that are already enjoyed by college instructors.
The BCGEU represents more than 1600 support workers at BC colleges and institutes affected by these negotiations. Kwantlen University college operates campuses in Surrey, Newton, Richmond, and Langley on the Lower Mainland.