aerial photo of the campus in the fall season

Role of PSEA

Role of the Government of British Columbia and the Post-Secondary Employers' Association in public-sector bargaining

In the public post-secondary sector, collective bargaining occurs within a provincial framework. The Post-Secondary Employers Association (PSEA) is the bargaining agent for 19 colleges and special-purpose teaching universities in BC. PSEA coordinates collective bargaining and delegates authority to VIU to bargain locally. PSEA also implements the government's public-sector bargaining mandate for our sector. That means all bargaining proposals and any agreements entered into by VIU are required to be approved by PSEA, including any changes to pay. Changes to collective agreement language at any point during the life of the agreement are also required to be approved by PSEA.

PSEA is the employer bargaining agent for all public colleges, special-purpose teaching universities, and institutes of BC. These institutions constitute the BC Post-Secondary sector and are governed by the College & Institute Act and the University Act, respectively.

PSEA is a Society created under the Public Sector Employers Act and has been operational since 1994. In 2004 by Order in Council, PSEA became the employer bargaining agent for each of its member institutions, including VIU.

The purposes of PSEA as set out in its Constitution are:

  1. To coordinate the following amongst its members:
    1. Compensation for employees who are not subject to collective agreements,
    2. Benefits administration,
    3. Human Resources best practices, and
    4. Collective bargaining objectives;
  2. To assist the Public Sector Employers' Council established under the Public Sector Employers' Act in carrying out any objectives and strategic directions established by the Council;
  3. To bargain collectively on behalf of its members and to bind its members to collective agreements;
  4. To coordinate collective bargaining and to establish policies for the content, administration and interpretation of collective agreements;
  5. To advise on grievances and to represent a member in any arbitration or other matter or proceeding which is of interest or concern to the Society or any member;
  6. To negotiate on behalf of its members with representatives of employees;
  7. To foster consultation between:
    1. PSEA and representatives of the employees of its Members, and
    2. Its Members
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