Facilities negotiations begin February 7

Unions representing 43,000 B.C. health care workers say they’re seeking a fair and reasonable settlement that protects and improves care delivery when they head to the bargaining table February 7.

The multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association met last week to hammer out bargaining proposals and prepare for the upcoming negotiations with the Health Employers Association of B.C.

BCGEU president Darryl Walker is calling on health employers to commit to reaching a fair contract in this round of bargaining.

“Because of privatization and cuts to health care, workers in this sector have seen increased instability, wages that have not kept up with rate of inflation and threats to job security,” says Walker.

“It’s important that health employers recognize the sacrifices that workers have had to make in previous rounds of bargaining and that we reach a fair deal that compensates these losses.”

The FBA represents unionized health care workers in hospitals, residential care facilities, diagnostic treatment centres, and in consolidated health services that are shared across multiple health employers.

And for the first time, BCGEU members at Emergency and Health Services Commission and ambulance paramedics are included in this set of negotiations.

There are more than 270 job classifications covered by these negotiations including care aides, licensed practical nurses, ambulance paramedics, health records staff, laboratory and other diagnosticspecialists, sterile supply technicians, dispatch personnel, trades and maintenance workers, activity aides and rehab assistants, IT specialists, pharmacy technicians, admitting and booking clerks, administrative staff, cleaning and dietary staff, and many others.

BCGEU represents over 2000 members covered under the Facilities agreement.

The FBA membership also includes Hospital Employees’ Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873 and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 882-882H.

Other FBA members are the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 38, the Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada Local 5, the British Columbia Nurses’ Union, the Construction and Specialized Workers Union Local 1611, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 324, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the United Steelworkers of America Local 9705.