The first week of negotiations for a new Facilities collective agreement wrapped on Friday, with an agreement to return to the table this Wednesday and bargaining dates scheduled to continue into April.

Our bargaining team set the stage for a round of bargaining focused on safer workplaces and the need for bold measures to recruit and retain staff including significant increases to compensation.

We've been clear with health employers that a significant investment in front-line workers is required if we want our health care system to survive and thrive beyond this pandemic.

Your bargaining committee are committed to hammering out proposals that reflect the bargaining mandates adopted by delegates to union bargaining conferences last year.

In the first week of talks, the FBA established agreements with health employer representatives on how to conduct bargaining and reached agreement on a number of administrative issues.

How the FBA works

The Facilities collective agreement is negotiated between the Facilities Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC). HEABC represents health authorities and Providence Healthcare plus those non-health-authority employers (affiliates) that are covered by the Facilities agreement.

The current collective agreement had a three-year term and expires on March 31, 2022.

The FBA is composed of nine unions with a total of over 54,000 workers. Under the FBA's rules of association, there are 23 voting members of the Facilities bargaining committee. Of these, 13 are allocated to HEU with the remaining ten positions allocated to the remaining unions based on their membership numbers within the FBA.

Seven of those spots are allocated to the BCGEU, two to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 882, and one to the remaining six unions, which are represented in these talks by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230.

We will continue to communicate on the status of negotiations and ensure a united strong voice on the important priorities established by our membership.

In solidarity,
Your Facilities Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

The first week of negotiations for a new Facilities collective agreement wrapped on Friday, with an agreement to return to the table this Wednesday and bargaining dates scheduled to continue into April.

Our bargaining team set the stage for a round of bargaining focused on safer workplaces and the need for bold measures to recruit and retain staff including significant increases to compensation.

We've been clear with health employers that a significant investment in front-line workers is required if we want our health care system to survive and thrive beyond this pandemic.

Your bargaining committee are committed to hammering out proposals that reflect the bargaining mandates adopted by delegates to union bargaining conferences last year.

In the first week of talks, the FBA established agreements with health employer representatives on how to conduct bargaining and reached agreement on a number of administrative issues.

How the FBA works

The Facilities collective agreement is negotiated between the Facilities Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC). HEABC represents health authorities and Providence Healthcare plus those non-health-authority employers (affiliates) that are covered by the Facilities agreement.

The current collective agreement had a three-year term and expires on March 31, 2022.

The FBA is composed of nine unions with a total of over 54,000 workers. Under the FBA's rules of association, there are 23 voting members of the Facilities bargaining committee. Of these, 13 are allocated to HEU with the remaining ten positions allocated to the remaining unions based on their membership numbers within the FBA.

Seven of those spots are allocated to the BCGEU, two to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 882, and one to the remaining six unions, which are represented in these talks by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230.

We will continue to communicate on the status of negotiations and ensure a united strong voice on the important priorities established by our membership.

In solidarity,
Your Facilities Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

Collective bargaining began last week between the nine-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) for a new collective agreement covering 58,000 health care workers.
 
Negotiations are set against the backdrop of a two-year pandemic that's left health care workers exhausted, short-handed and struggling to make ends meet.
 
You have shown incredible courage and commitment throughout this health care crisis, but we are hearing that many of you are burning out.
 
Your bargaining committee will be negotiating for safer workplaces, significant improvements to the compensation package, and additional measures that support the retention and recruitment of skilled health care workers. 
 
We will be keeping you updated as talks progress.
 
In solidarity,
Your Facilities Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

As negotiations are soon set to start for members covered by the Community Health, Facilities and Health Science Professionals collective agreements, the Unions are commencing Essential Service negotiations with your Employers.
 
The Union and Employer are required to negotiate and establish the healthcare services that will be provided in the event of any job action. This process usually begins around the time that negotiations are set to begin. Essential services are those services necessary or essential to prevent immediate and serious danger to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of British Columbia. Providing essential services is meant to achieve a balance between allowing the Union to have an effective strike and providing emergency services to the public. If a job is determined to be non-essential this does not in any way imply the job is not important.
 
BCGEU Area Office Staff Representatives will be conducting the negotiations for your worksites, and may be reaching out to your Local Executive and Stewards for assistance and feedback. If you are asked by your Employer to negotiate the essential services at your workplace, please advise your Steward or Local Executive member so your Employer can be redirected to the Staff Representative for your worksite.
 
In Solidarity,
 
Monique Wemhof
Staff Representative, Negotiations

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