Bargaining has begun this week for the 2,000 BCGEU members employed in health facilities across the province. Your union is the second largest delegation on the multi-union bargaining committee after the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) with roughly 40,000 members.

"Through bargaining surveys, you've clearly identified the issues you want to see dealt with in this round. It has been a long five years since bargaining and it's time for improvements," said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith.

Those issues include inadequate staffing, heavy workloads, and chaotic work environments that put workers, patients and residents at risk. High injury rates and the high cost of living are additional concerns.

Bargaining with the Health Employers Association of BC will continue for the next five weeks in Vancouver. The BCGEU has seven bargaining committee members. The HEU has 13 representatives.

"We have a positive working relationship with the HEU and other unions at the table. We're anxious to roll up our sleeves and get the best collective agreement possible -- for everyone in the facilities sector," said BCGEU bargaining committee chair Christine Fuller. "The voices of BCGEU members will be heard during this round of bargaining."

"Our members go to work every day with the aim of providing the best care possible for residents of facilities and that's why we're looking for substantial gains and working condition improvements," said Smith. 

We will keep you posted on progress during the coming weeks. To make sure you receive bargaining information in a timely fashion, make sure you register with the BCGEU member portal.

The BCGEU bargaining committee of the Facilities Bargaining Association is:
Christine Fuller, BCGEU committee chairperson, Northern Health Authority
Deborah Wagner, Interior Health Authority
Richard Ziemianski, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Joel Blanco, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Mahen Ramdharry, Provincial Health Services Authority
Holly Derco, Provincial Health Services Authority
Gary Bennett, BCGEU staff negotiator

UWU/MoveUP