The member unions of the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with B.C.'s health employers. The BCGEU is one of nine members of the FBA covering more than 60,000 workers in hospitals, care homes, logistics and supply facilities and other settings within B.C.'s health care system.
 
The vote passed by 64 per cent.
 
The agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2022. It includes a significant compensation package, including general wage increases and cost of living adjustments (COLA), new and improved premiums and allowances, and additional resources to address the impact of historic wage cuts on pay equity.
 
Year one will see hourly wages increased by 25 cents and then by 3.24 per cent. This equates to a minimum combined increase of 4.24 per cent for the majority of workers covered by the agreement.
 
Wages will increase a minimum of 5.5 per cent and by as much as 6.75 per cent based on the COLA formula in year two.
 
In year three, wages will increase by a minimum of two per cent and by as much as three per cent depending on the COLA.
 
There are also provisions to address serious staffing shortages and turnover, including a commitment to staffing hours which will add thousands of new regularized positions to the bargaining unit by 2024.
 
For members working at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, including community forensic clinics, the agreement also provides for a new forensic premium of two per cent for minimum and medium security and community settings and four per cent for maximum and multi-level security.
 
The bargaining unit includes care aides, health records staff, lab and other diagnostic specialists, sterile supply techs, renal technicians, nursing unit assistants, trades and maintenance workers, activity aides and rehab assistants, IT specialists, pharmacy techs, admitting and booking clerks, administrative staff, cleaning and dietary staff, and many others.