The 7,000 member College Institute Educators' Association of B.C. just got a little bigger. On Jan. 11, the 130 members of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design Faculty Association became Local 22 of CIEA.

CIEA president Maureen Shaw said she is delighted to have ECIAD faculty as members of CIEA.

"Faculty and staff in B.C. post-secondary education institutions are facing a good deal of turmoil in the coming year and I am pleased that Emily Carr faculty will be working more closely with their colleagues at this time," Shaw said.

She also said she believes the experience that Emily Carr faculty bring will strengthen CIEA.

Chris Czartoryski, president of ECIADFA, said the association worked closely with CIEA during the last round of bargaining and decided to formalize the relationship.

"We look forward to a productive working relationship and to wider links within the post-secondary system, and with labour and national organizations such as CAUT," Czartoryski said.

ECIAD is a degree-granting institution and its faculty are currently negotiating a new collective agreement.