An agreement reached on Oct. 23 headed off a threatened strike at BC colleges, university-colleges and institutes. About 8,000 educators -- members of the College Institute Educators' Association and the BC Government and Service Employees' Union -- had been scheduled to begin strike action at 6:00 a.m. on Oct. 23. A strike would have affected an estimated 80,000 students.

"It has been an unusually long session of bargaining, with progress coming extremely slowly over the last eight months," said Ed Lavalle, President of CIEA. "I am very proud of the work our joint bargaining committee has done to bring about this tentative settlement."

The three-year agreement includes new job security language, improved health and welfare benefits, protection against contracting out, and a process to convert sessional or part-time educators to regular status. Total compensation increases fall within the government's 0-0-2 wage guidelines.

The agreement is subject to ratification by the membership of the two unions.