Bargaining and administering collective agreements are priorities for the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators, and most of the organization's resources go to supporting bargaining and assisting in collective agreement administration. FPSE has a team of professional staff who work with member locals to negotiate and defend collective agreements. FPSE's educational program includes a comprehensive bargaining course to assist locals in all aspects of collective bargaining. FPSE also works with outside legal counsel as needed in both bargaining and contract administration.

Information on current and past rounds of bargaining can be found under the Bargaining menu.

All FPSE locals are now covered by local agreements and most locals are also covered by a Common Agreement. Staff Representatives are available to assist member locals to prepare for and negotiate agreements.

Under the Common Agreement, the Joint Administration and Dispute Resolution Committee or JADRC – a joint employer-union committee – provides a means for resolving issues concerning the Common Agreement. From time to time JADRC will agree on specific interpretations of the Common Agreement. These are circulated as Joint Interpretation Bulletins or memos. JADRC interpretation documents are available.

FPSE's Bargaining Co-ordination Committee actively monitors negotiations across the post-secondary education system and assists in coordinating bargaining. Provincial bargaining is undertaken by a voluntary Bargaining Council, which includes the BC Government and Service Employees' Union.

FPSE staff and local elected representatives successfully defend the integrity of collective agreements on a daily basis. Local stewards with time release handle most grievances in the initial stages. Where grievances cannot be resolved at the initial stages, FPSE Staff Representatives work with locals through to arbitration, when necessary. FPSE regularly offers labour relations training to member locals and the Contract Administration Review Committee brings Chief Stewards together on a regular basis to coordinate and learn how best to protect collective agreement rights.

FPSE's Procedures for Accessing Contract Administration Services and the Policy for Provision of Legal Services to Locals, outlined in the Policy & Procedures Manual, explain in more detail how locals can access FPSE services. The Policies and Principles for Bargaining in BC's Universities position paper outlines FPSE's policies regarding bargaining in universities.

The Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA) is the employer bargaining agent for all public colleges, university colleges and institutes in BC. In February 2004, the PSEA became the accredited bargaining agent for its members. The Public Sector Employers' Council (PSEC) coordinates the management of labour relations policies and practices in the BC public sector and supports the work of PSEA and a range of other public sector employer associations.

The Ministry of Labour, Citizens' Services, and Open Government oversees legislation which governs collective bargaining and collective agreement administration.