Unlike traditional or “independent” collective agreements that cover BCGEU members working for one employer (e.g. Vancity), these agreements cover entire sectors of the B.C. economy with multiple employers and, in some cases, multiple unions. These agreements are referred to as “sectoral agreements” and the process of negotiating them as “sectoral bargaining.” 

73,000 BCGEU members will take part in sectoral bargaining this year under six agreements: Community Health, The Public Service, Community Social Services, Health Facilities, Health Science Professionals and Post-secondary. 

10 major B.C. unions represent over 400,000 unionized workers and public sector professionals across the province overall. However, the BCGEU is the first of these unions to begin bargaining with BC Public Service negotiations taking the lead. In other words, BCGEU members are at the forefront of winning the much-needed improvements to wages and working conditions frontline workers are seeking across the entire public sector.