A tentative agreement covering more than 48,000 hospital and long-term care workers has been reached between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association and B.C.'s health employers.
The two-year agreement protects wages and extended health benefits, expands options for workers affected by restructuring and privatization, and provides for compensation increases for targeted job categories.
The agreement was reached against the backdrop of a government freeze on public sector compensation and just weeks before the tabling of a post-Olympic budget that is expected to result in a new round of health authority budget cuts.
"In a tough round of bargaining, we were able to make progress on key priorities for workers in the sector," says BCGEU President Darryl Walker.
"There are a number of job security provisions that will help retain workers affected by contracting out and restructuring."
The agreement covers about 270 different jobs in every area of health care including nursing, health records, information technology, logistics and supply, diagnostic testing, pharmacy, trades and maintenance, dietary, housekeeping, payroll and more.
The Facilities Bargaining Association includes a number of unions including the BCGEU, which represents around 2,000 members in the sector.
The FBA is recommending acceptance of the agreement to their members and will be scheduling ratification votes.
The current agreement expires on March 31, 2010.
