The BCGEU and other unions in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) have voted 82 per cent in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). BCGEU health science professionals voted 93 per cent in favour of the agreement which includes a general wage increase for all members and addresses chronic issues that have affected members' ability to provide the care that British Columbians expect and deserve.

"This agreement addresses years of erosion in the health care system," said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "Our members have struggled with unsustainable workloads, and chronic shortages and vacancies. We're confident this agreement will improve the delivery of health care services in hospitals and communities across the province."

Highlights of the agreement include:

• A general wage increase of 2 per cent for all members each year of the agreement (a previously scheduled wage increase will result in a 3.75 per cent wage increase for 2019).
• A total of $10 million will be devoted to addressing classification and compensation inequities within the Health Sciences Professionals bargaining unit, and recognizing the contributions of health science professionals in leadership and mentoring roles.
• Members working on call will see their call-back pay increased to double-time, and, effective April 1, 2021 all members will benefit from an additional vacation day after five years of service, and an additional 7.5 hours each year after.
• Language has been improved to ensure expedited consideration and resolution to workload grievances forwarded by members, and a Working Group on Workload, with a mandate to develop, produce, and support the implementation of guidelines to address workload issues affecting health science professionals.

The new collective agreement will be in effect from April 1, 2019 until March 31, 2022. The HSPBA represents 19,000 workers from five unions and the BCGEU is the second largest union in the HSPBA representing roughly 2,400 members.

Please share this email with your co-workers. Members are also encouraged to keep their email information up to date. To provide updated contact information, please visit the member portal at my.bcgeu.ca.

In solidarity, your HSPBA bargaining committee,

John Mogk, Bargaining Committee Chair

Tim Little, Bargaining Committee

Ping Qiu, Bargaining Committee

Binny Sivia, Bargaining Committee - Alt

Angela Mahlmann, Staff Representative

Download PDF of notice here 

UWU/MoveUP