The fund supports career-related skills training for regular, temporary, and auxiliary BCGEU employees. A joint union/management committee meets at least once every two months to review applications and provide advice and recommendations regarding matters related to the fund.
Funding Categories
Long-Term Requests (over 3 months in duration)
- 30% of the fund is allocated to tuition and leave, including documented required equipment and supplies related to the PD activity.
- Employees may receive up to $20,000 per fiscal year for long-term requests.
Short-Term Requests
- 70% of the fund is allocated to conferences, part-time study courses, seminars, and professional fees, including documented required equipment and supplies related to the PD activity.
- Employees may receive up to $3,500 per fiscal year (including leave) for short-term requests.
- Leave requests may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility and Funding
The SSPDF Committee may grant funding for:
- Tuition and leave for long-term requests (including documented required equipment and supplies).
- Conferences, part-time study courses, seminars, professional fees, and documented travel requirements for short-term requests.
Travel expenses follow the Travel and Professional Development Expenses Procedures (2005-PR1).
Important Information
- Applications must be submitted before the start of the PD activity.
- Retroactive applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis if the activity occurred within the same fiscal year.
- Approval of PD funding does not constitute approval of release time. Written supervisor/manager approval for release time is required before submitting an application.
- Auxiliary employees with at least 630 hours of seniority may apply for funding for BCIT courses. Regular and temporary BCGEU employees must use the BCIT Staff Fee Waiver process for BCIT courses.
For complete eligibility requirements, application deadlines, supporting documentation requirements, and fund guidelines, please refer to the detailed information available below.
To apply for the fund, launch the BCGEU PD Fund Application System and begin the application process. Your network credentials are required to log-in.