The BC Government & Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) commends last week's extended apology from Deputy Minister to the Premier and head of the B.C. Public Service Kim Henderson to those affected by the terminations of Ministry of Health employees in 2012.

In the April 2017 report Misfire: The 2012 Ministry of Health Employment Terminations and Related Matters, the B.C. Ombudsperson documented in great detail the failures identified in the Ministry of Health terminations and made important recommendations to address these failures.

The BCGEU welcomed these recommendations and looks forward to a continued discussion aimed at addressing individual as well as systemic issues that will increase fairness for workers and improve public administration. This includes recommendations to review standards of conduct for public service employees to assist in assessing conflicts of interest, improve standards for human resource investigations, and update the Public Service Act.

In support of Justice Cromwell's work to develop a reparation process, the BCGEU has begun working with the Ministry of Health to develop and implement an organizational reconciliation program as recommended by the B.C. Ombudsperson. This program will address initiatives to support employee morale and engagement in the Ministry.

The BCGEU has retained legal counsel to protect the interests of Ramsay Hamdi, David Scott and Linda Kayfish (on behalf of Roderick MacIsaac), as well as all affected unionized employees. This will ensure that the implementation of the recommendations related to individuals named in the Ombudsperson's report are handled in a fair and expeditious manner.

Local 467/MoveUP