The agreement secures major investments to attract and retain workers including an expanded Health Care Access Program (HCAP) and $4.5 million in funding to the FBA Education Fund.

The tentative agreement builds on the unions' historic work to undo the damage of years of privatization by the former BC Liberal government, with a commitment to bring in contracted support services workers at Fraser Health P3 hospitals and facilities back in-house.

An additional 9.25 million hours of staffing will be added to the bargaining unit, with a commitment that three out of four positions created will be regularized and full-time. This adds more than 2,000 staff to the bargaining unit in addition to previously repatriated support workers.

Making workplaces safer was also a top membership priority. Workers will now have input into care plans for aggressive patients or residents, and greater access to violence prevention training. JOHSC committee rights have also been extended, and occupational health and safety also includes physical and psychological health and safety.

The bargaining committee negotiated a ground-breaking agreement on scheduling that will help with work-life balance. It provides for member-initiated proposals to help reduce the number of six-day rotations. Additionally, a number of leave provisions in the collective agreement have been improved.

our BCGEU members of the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) Bargaining Committee are unanimously recommending that members vote yes to ratify the tentative agreement when ratification votes are held in the coming weeks. The agreement covers more than 60,000 health care workers across B.C., more than 2,000 of whom are BCGEU members.

The tentative agreement links wage increases to inflation, improves premiums and other compensation, and takes action on staffing shortages and burnout on health care’s front lines.

The proposed three-year contract includes general wage increases linked to cost of living indicators. A detailed explanation of the cost of living trigger will be provided in the weeks ahead, but here’s what it means for members:

•  Year 1 – Effective April 1, 2022 increase all rates of pay by 25 cents an hour and then increase all rates of pay by 3.24%. These wage increases are retroactive to April 1, 2022.
• Year 2 – Effective April 1, 2023 increase rates of pay by the annualized average increase of the BC Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the 12 months starting on March 1, 2022, to a minimum of 5.5% and a maximum of 6.75%.
• Year 3 - Effective April 1, 2024 increase rates of pay by the annualized average increase of the BC CPI over 12 months starting on March 1, 2023, to a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 3%.

For clarity, if the maximum increases in Year 2 and Year 3 are triggered, members of the bargaining unit will see their wages increase by more than 14% by April 1, 2024. A care aide at Grid 22, for example, would see their wages increase by 14.6% by April 1, 2024.

The tentative agreement also addresses the historic 2004 wage cuts to the bargaining unit through a joint process with employers and government to make recommendations for the next round of bargaining. As an interim step, $15.6 million in ongoing funding will provide wage adjustments starting with the lowest-wage workers in April 2023.

Over the term of the agreement, weekend premiums increase to $2.15 an hour; evening premiums to $1.90 an hour and night premiums to $3.20 an hour. Some of those increases will be retroactive.

In recognition of uniquely challenging working conditions, the tentative agreement will create a new premium for FBA members working at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital and forensic community clinics. BCGEU FBA members working in Minimum and Medium security units and community settings will be eligible for an additional hourly premium of 2%, while those working in Maximum or Multi-level security units will be eligible for an additional hourly premium of 4%.

The tentative agreement also renews the memorandum of agreement regarding callout compensation for BCGEU FBA members working in BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) IT operations and telecommunications.

Criminal record checks, FoodSafe refresher courses, and professional fees for Regulated Pharmacy Technicians will now be fully covered by the employer. Required sick notes will be 50% covered by the employer. Transportation and uniform allowances and the Trades Qualification premium, are also improved.

Up to $125 a year will be reimbursed by the employer for required Canadian Standard Association (CSA) certified grade one or two protective toecap or electrical protective footwear.

The agreement secures major investments to attract and retain workers including an expanded Health Care Access Program (HCAP) and $4.5 million in funding to the FBA Education Fund.

The tentative agreement builds on the unions’ historic work to undo the damage of years of privatization by the former BC Liberal government, with a commitment to bring in contracted support services workers at Fraser Health P3 hospitals and facilities back in-house.

An additional 9.25 million hours of staffing will be added to the bargaining unit, with a commitment that three out of four positions created will be regularized and full-time. This adds more than 2,000 staff to the bargaining unit in addition to previously repatriated support workers.

Making workplaces safer was also a top membership priority. Workers will now have input into care plans for aggressive patients or residents, and greater access to violence prevention training. JOHSC committee rights have also been extended, and occupational health and safety also includes physical and psychological health and safety.

The bargaining committee negotiated a ground-breaking agreement on scheduling that will help with work-life balance. It provides for member-initiated proposals to help reduce the number of six-day rotations. Additionally, a number of leave provisions in the collective agreement have been improved.

New funding will expand the number of Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) stewards.

The agreement includes provisions to address harassment and bullying, promote trans inclusion, and to ensure culturally safe health care delivery.

The union is currently preparing a comprehensive report on the settlement including the full text of more than 100 negotiated provisions. In addition, a number of opportunities are being scheduled so members can learn more before voting on the tentative agreement.

BCGEU and the other FBA unions will schedule ratification votes on the agreement over the next several weeks.

In solidarity,

Your Facilities Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP