Labour Relations
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is committed to negotiating collective agreements with its employee groups to advance shared interests and resolve differences, while remaining aligned with the direction set by the Public Sector Employers' Council (PSEC). PSEC oversees the strategic coordination of labour relations, total compensation planning, and human resource management across the broader public sector in British Columbia.
KPU will share themes, issues and developments from the employer's perspective, while respecting the role of the unions. This includes appropriate updates on labour relations with the Kwantlen Faculty Association (KFA), which represents faculty members, and the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), which represents support staff, during collective bargaining and at other times as needed. The university will also share information and resources regarding the provincial framework the university is mandated to operate within for negotiations.
Unions representing KPU employees have their own websites where members can find information:
The unions are the exclusive bargaining agents for KPU’s unionized employees. As such, KPU conducts all negotiations with the unions, and does not negotiate directly with employees. KPU can provide updates on the status of negotiations.
Latest Updates
May 30, 2025
KPU and the KFA have agreed dates for initial discussions regarding bargaining for the next collective agreement. The two parties will have their first meetings in June to begin discussions around a protocol agreement for bargaining.
About Collective Bargaining
Public sector bargaining has been conducted under the Public Sector Employers’ Council (PSEC) model since 1994. Government, via the PSEC Secretariat (which carries out the mandate of PSEC), sets a bargaining mandate for the public sector that all public sector employers are statutorily bound to observe. Like other employers subject to the Public Sector Employers’ Act, KPU must have its bargaining plans approved by the Minister responsible for the act before substantive negotiations with the union can begin.
The PSEC Secretariat reviews and approves all language and costing prior to being tabled. Tentative agreements reached at the bargaining table are subject to PSEC approval. The B.C. government’s Shared Recovery Mandate applies to all public sector employers with unionized employees whose collective agreements expire on or after June 30, 2022, including KPU.
Human Resources
In unionized environments, Human Resources plays a key role in ensuring that negotiations occur in a manner that is consistent with the BC Labour Relations code and that bargained language is in alignment with KPU’s strategic priorities.
Within Human Resources, the Labour Relations team provides dedicated support throughout all phases of the bargaining process. Prior to the start of bargaining, Labour Relations is responsible for reviewing the current collective agreement, consulting with university leaders to identify operational priorities, and responding to Union requests for information.
Representatives from Human Resources also serve on the university’s bargaining team. For the upcoming round of collective bargaining with the KFA, the university’s bargaining team members consist of:
- Laurie Clancy, Vice President, HR
- Diane Purvey, Vice President, Academic
- Jenn Harrington, Associate Vice President, People Relations and Bargaining Committee Chair
- David Woolias, Legal Counsel, Harris & Co., Bargaining Committee Spokesperson
- David Burns, Associate Vice President, Academic
- Todd Mundle, University Librarian
- Shelley Boyd, Dean, Faculty of Arts
- Sean Smith, Labour Relations Specialist
The bargaining team is responsible for developing proposals in alignment with the PSEC mandates, negotiating the terms of the collective agreement, maintaining appropriate communication with KPU executive leadership, and communicating with the KPU community at critical points in and after the bargaining process.
Following the ratification of a new collective agreement, Human Resources will communicate and educate the University community on changes to the collective agreement and will operationalize changes that impact internal Human Resources’ processes, including any applicable wage increases.
Contact
For questions regarding labour relations, please email the Human Resources team