Bargaining 101 & preparing for bargaining

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

"Meeting" - Photo by Headway on Unsplash

Langara College is preparing to begin collective bargaining with of its employee groups, in coordination with other public post-secondary institutions across British Columbia.

In this early stage, People & Culture has reviewed existing agreements and begun scheduling initial negotiation sessions in collaboration with the Post-Secondary Employers’ Association (PSEA). These steps set the foundation for a process that reflects Langara’s mission and values.

What is collective bargaining

Collective bargaining is the formal process where Langara and its employee groups negotiate the terms and conditions of employment — including compensation, working conditions, and benefits — within the provincial framework used by all B.C. public post-secondary institutions.

Langara’s guiding philosophy

Langara approaches bargaining with a focus on integrity, collaboration, and balance. The goal is not only to reach agreements, but to do so in a way that sustains the College’s long-term stability and reflects its mission to serve students and the community.

We aim to maintain open, factual communication throughout the process and to approach every stage with respect and transparency.

Provincial mandate

Collective bargaining in B.C.’s public sector is guided by a provincial mandate set by the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat (PSEC Secretariat) and coordinated for post-secondary institutions by the PSEA.

This framework ensures consistent, affordable, and sustainable agreements across the sector while allowing flexibility for local priorities.

The most recent completed mandate, the 2022 Shared Recovery Mandate, emphasized:

  • Fair and reasonable compensation increases that protect workers’ purchasing power through an inflation-sensitive model.
  • Improved employment certainty and stability through multi-year agreements.
  • Sustainability and affordability for government and institutions.

PSEA will communicate the next provincial bargaining mandate to post-secondary employers when it is confirmed by government.

For more about the provincial process, visit the PSEA website.

What to expect next

  • As bargaining sessions begin, Langara will post weekly updates summarizing discussion areas and progress.
  • Milestones such as tentative agreements or ratifications will be posted as they occur.
  • Each Employee Group section will show status and link to current agreements and updates.

For more on how bargaining works, visit the About Bargaining page.

 

 

 

Article image by Headway on Unsplash