If you are a Member under the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association Agreement (HSPBA), and have a genuine interest and the required skills to provide union support within the Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP), an opportunity exists for you with the BCGEU.
The EDMP team is looking to provide the best service possible to our members enrolled in the program and are actively recruiting new Regional EDMP Representatives to provide member support in the workplace.

Date: April 26, 2024

Position: Casual Regional EDMP Representative

Salary: Wage Replacement

Posting Period: April 29 – May 3, 2024

The Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) as set out in the HSPBA Collective Agreement is designed to facilitate an employee-centred, pro-active, appropriate and customized disability management program for employees with occupational and non-occupational illness/injury.
 
As a workplace based program, the EDMP utilizes designated union representatives who play an active role in ensuring members realize the greatest benefit from EDMP.
 
Successful applicants will have a passion for disability management and rehabilitation, excellent problem-solving, interpersonal and organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task and prioritize.
 
POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the designated EDMP HSPBA Administrator, the BCGEU EDMP Regional Representative works as part of the HSPBA EDMP team and is responsible for promoting and coordinating best practices with respect to disability management and rehabilitation. This includes representing and assisting HSPBA members with issues regarding early intervention, long-term disability and return to work in accordance with the principles and policies associated with the EDMP, resolving disputes related to EDMP, reviewing and analyzing EDMP data at a regional level, and following up on concerns.

The BCGEU EDMP Regional Representative also promotes and educates members about the EDMP and positively represents the values and principles of HSPBA.
The home location and specific schedule of work will be determined by BCGEU in consultation with the successful candidate and the health authority.

A comprehensive training program will be provided.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Promote and educate members about the EDMP.
2. Answer inquiries from, and provide support to, members engaged in or referred to the EDMP.
3. Receive, review, and analyze triage, case management, and status reports. Follow up with members who have concerns about EDMP or who have declined to participate. Compile data on number of cases handled, outcomes, and trends.
4. Attend meetings or conference calls to discuss new referrals, and status of open and recently closed EDMP files. These meetings will occur at least every 30 calendar days, as well as at 90 days and 17 months, where applicable.
5. Review and track implementation of straightforward and complex case management plans according to the EDMP in conjunction with and under the direction of the designated HSPBA EDMP Administrator.
6. Assist with troubleshooting on medical or rehabilitation issues.
7. Review all return to work plans for accuracy and appropriateness.
8. Conference call to EDMP meetings with members at multiple worksites throughout the province.
9. Ensure appropriate referrals are made and information provided to members with respect to additional services and programs such as Long Term Disability, WorkSafe BC claims, Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, etc.
10. Ensure program documentation is complete. Maintain and update case files related to work assignments.
11. Develop and implement a work plan in conjunction with the designated HSPBA EDMP Administrator to ensure that EDMP goals are met at the regional level.
12. Ensure the rights of all members under the HSPBA agreement are maintained and refer labour relations matters to appropriate BCGEU Servicing Representatives as necessary.
13. Maintain confidentiality of all member information.
14. Must be able to work from home in a private and confidential setting.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• BCGEU Member under the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association Agreement (HSPBA)
• Experience in case management, preferably managing medical issues.
• College or University education in an Allied Health Sciences or Social Services discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, training and related experience.
• Knowledgeable, or willing and able to become knowledgeable, in best practices with respect to disability management and rehabilitation.
• Knowledgeable, or willingness to acquire, develop and maintain knowledge of collective agreement and legislative provisions relevant to disability management, i.e.: PIPA and FOIPPA, human rights legislation and the duty to accommodate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to prepare detailed reports, briefing notes and correspondence. Proficient computer skills are an asset (i.e.: Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Experience assisting members to navigate complex service networks and resources.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively advocate within a multi-party system.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Valid driver's license and access to a vehicle.

If this opportunity is of interest to you, BCGEU will be accepting expressions of interest until 5:00 pm on May 3, 2024. Resumes and cover letter will be accepted by email to: [email protected]

Download PDF of bulletin here

UWU/MoveUP

HSPBA members to receive maximum cost of living increase this year
Negotiated inflation-protection measures will trigger full 3.0% increase this year

British Columbia inflation data released this week confirm that the maximum wage protections in the 2022-2025 Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) collective agreement will be triggered, and members will receive the full 3.0% wage increase starting April 1, 2024.

For most members, this brings the total general wage increase for the three years of the agreement to nearly 14%.

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), was negotiated as part of the current collective agreement, ratified by members in December 2022. The COLA is based on the annualized average monthly BC Consumer Price Index value over the 12 months leading up to March. 

The current agreements expire March 31, 2025, and planning for the upcoming round of negotiations has already begun.

UWU/MoveUP

New inflation figures released today confirm that the maximum wage protections in your collective agreement will be triggered, and members will receive the full 6.75% wage increase starting April 1, 2023. 

This brings the total general wage increases for the first two years of the agreement to well over 10% for most members.
 
Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association is working with HEABC to make sure that you receive the 2023 wage increases as soon as possible. We will keep you updated when we have more information.
 
Your current collective agreement – ratified last year – also includes wage protections for the April 1, 2024 wage increases. We expect to have approximations of the April 1, 2024 increase around this time next year. You can find more information about the wage protections and other changes in your collective agreement on the ratification page.

In solidarity,

Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

Members can expect to begin receiving pay raises towards the end of next month.
 
Timing and delivery of the new pay rates is entirely in the hands of the employer, but with agreement now achieved on the formulation of wage schedules, the employer is expected to begin making the necessary payroll changes. This is expected to take about six weeks, in line with the implementation seen in comparable contract negotiations.
 
Pay increases negotiated as part of the 2022-2025 Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association collective agreement, ratified by members December 21, 2022, will also deliver retroactive payments going back to the first pay period after April 1, 2022. Again, in line with the implementation seen in comparable contract negotiations, retroactive payments can be expected to take about a further 3 weeks after members see the new higher rates on their pay statements.
 
Members can expect to see general wage increases of on average 3.83 per cent in the first year of the new contract, ending March 31, 2023. In the second and third years, pay increases will be at least 5.5 per cent and 2 per cent, plus any Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases triggered should inflation remain high. Over the three year agreement, all members will see pay increase a minimum of about 12 per cent to 14 per cent, plus increases that may result from the comprehensive review of job classifications in 2023 and 2024.

In solidarity,
Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

Members of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) have voted 77 per cent in favour of accepting a new collective agreement effective April 21, 2022 to March 31, 2025.
 
Highlights of the contract include a general wage increase of about 12-14% over three years for all members, plus additional increases for most members based on a review of all classifications over this period. The general wage increase is retroactive to April 1, 2022.
 
Your bargaining committee went to the table with strong direction from members to address wages that have fallen behind their colleagues across the country, to seek meaningful recruitment and retention strategies to support health science professionals working under crushing workloads, and to gain respect for the critical contributions of health science professionals on the health care team. This contract delivers on all those priorities.
 
In addition to raising wages to competitive levels across the country, this collective agreement also establishes ongoing processes to address shortages and vacancies, and recognizes the critical role health science professionals play on the health care team, including asserting their right to a safe and healthy workplace.
 
For the first time in decades, the contract provides significant pay increases. In addition:

• Cost of Living Adjustments are built in to protect pay against longer-term increases in inflation.
• Improvements to premiums for on-call, short-notice, super shifts and weekend shifts will put more money in many members' pockets.
• A long-overdue update to the classification system provides more recognition of the complexity and scope of work, more opportunity for career advancement, and more respect.
• Specific provisions address the recruitment and retention crisis.
• Occupational health and safety changes address mental health under duress, unsafe workloads, infection control standards, access to personal protective equipment and prevention of violence in the workplace.
• Enhanced education leaves support professional development.
• A new focus on implementing recommendations to support the inclusion of Indigenous workers, patients and clients will work toward reconciliation and culturally-safe health care.
• Inclusion of communities that experience marginalization in the health care system is a major priority.

In addition to Indigenous-specific anti-racism measures agreed to in the collective agreement, HSPBA was successful in negotiating a ground-pilot project to explore alternatives to the Christian/colonial focus on statutory holidays to better reflect the diverse cultures and practices of health care workers. 
 
The general wage increases are retroactive to the first pay period after April 1, 2022, and the new premium rates are effective starting December 22, 2022.
 
In solidarity,
Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

Voting on your new tentative agreement begins in one week. This is an important decision. To make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed vote, we encourage you to attend one of the following one-hour telephone town hall meetings to hear more about the agreement and to ask questions. Note we have added a fourth date below.

• Monday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. 
• Monday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m. 
• Wednesday, December 14 at 5:30 p.m. 
• New: Thursday, December 15 at 12:30 p.m. PST

You will be called when the telephone town hall starts. To ensure you can participate, our union must have your current phone number and personal email address on file. You can review and update this information now on the BCGEU Member Portal – my.bcgeu.ca – or by contacting your area office. 

Voting information 
Voting on the tentative agreement is open to all members covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association and will be held online. Voting will begin on December 6 at 9 a.m. PST and close December 20 at 5 p.m. PST. You will need a voting credential to cast your vote and these will be sent out by email. 

Details of the tentative agreement can also be viewed at the links below. The bargaining committee strongly recommends voting in favour of ratification of this tentative agreement. If you have any questions, please email: [email protected]. 

Link to Comprehensive Report booklet 
Link to FAQs 
Link to wage calculator 

In solidarity, 
Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association 

UWU/MoveUP

B.C.'s 22,000 specialized health professionals working in hospitals and communities around the province reached a tentative agreement on the evening of Wednesday, November 2, 2022, after more than eight months of negotiations between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).
 
The HSPBA bargaining committee went to the bargaining table with strong direction from members to address wages that have fallen behind their colleagues across the country, recruitment and retention strategies to support specialized health care professionals working under crushing workloads, and respect for the critical contributions of specialized health care professionals on the health care team.
 
The tentative agreement provides general wage increases on par with recently ratified public sector agreements under the government's wage mandate, which protects workers against the rising cost of living. Importantly, it also provides a new wage structure that makes B.C. wages for health science professionals competitive with their counterparts across the country.
 
Important features of the tentative agreement include:

• General wage increase that acknowledges the impact of the rising cost of living.
• Overhaul of an outdated job classification system to better recognize the complexity and scope of the work of HSP members on the specialized health care team.
• Provisions to address the recruitment and retention crisis.
• Addressing occupational health and safety issues ranging from workers' mental mental health, unsafe workloads, improved infection control standards, access to personal protective equipment and violence prevention.
• Acting on recommendations from the In Plain Sight report on the experience of Indigenous workers, patients, and clients in the health care system to work toward reconciliation and culturally safe health care.
• Plotting a roadmap for improved inclusion within the health care workforce for communities that experience marginalization.
• Scheduling and leave provisions to improve work-life balance.
• Improvements to continuing education and recognition of professional status.

Complete information about the tentative agreement will be provided to members across the province in the coming weeks, with dates for an online ratification vote to be determined.
 
In solidarity,

Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP

For almost 20 years, provincial governments in B.C. worked deliberately to drive down wages for health science professionals in B.C.

In many cases they succeeded, leaving health professionals earning some of the lowest wages relative to their colleagues across Canada. It was a misguided attempt to control health care costs; instead, it slowly undermined the health care system, even before the pandemic created the current crisis of dire shortages and crushing workload.

With the tentative agreement just secured on behalf of all health science professionals, this begins to turn around.

• For the first time in decades, this proposed agreement provides significant pay increases, delivering members an increase of approximately 12 to 14 per cent more, at the minimum, over three years.
• Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are built in to protect pay against longer-term increases in inflation.
• Improvements to premiums for on-call, short-notice, super shifts, and weekend shifts will put more money in many members' pockets.
• A long-overdue update to the classification system provides more recognition of the complexity and scope of work, more opportunity for career advancement, and more respect.
• Specific provisions address the recruitment and retention crisis.
• Occupational health and safety changes address mental health under duress, unsafe workloads, infection control standards, access to personal protective equipment, and prevention of violence in the workplace.
• Leaves for enhanced education support professional development.
• A new focus on implementing recommendations to support the inclusion of Indigenous workers, patients, and clients will work toward reconciliation and culturally-safe health care.
• Inclusion of communities that experience marginalization in the health care system is a major priority.

The bargaining committee strongly recommends voting in favour of ratification of this tentative agreement. Voting details are below.

In the coming weeks, we will be conducting a series of telephone town halls, inviting all members to call in to listen to reports, hear questions from other members, and ask questions themselves. More information on that will be coming soon, and in the meantime, here's how you can learn more about the details of the tentative agreement:

• Link to Comprehensive Report booklet
• Link to FAQs
• Link to wage calculator

Contact us with your questions

To find out more about how this tentative agreement will affect your position, send your questions to [email protected].

Voting information

Voting on the tentative agreement is open to all members covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association and will be held online. Voting will be open from 9 a.m., December 6 to 5 p.m., December 20.

You will need a voting credential to cast your vote, and these will be sent out by email.

In solidarity,
Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association


UWU/MoveUP

Your bargaining committee has been at work for over nine months to improve your wages, benefits, and working conditions. They've drafted, re-drafted, and finalized proposals that capture all the great ideas brought forward at our bargaining conference in October 2021. And they've pushed hard for the employer to address problems that have gone on for years. 

Now, your bargaining committee has recommended a tentative collective agreement to you that will increase your wages, expand your benefits, and improve working conditions for health science professionals across the province. 

Here's what comes next:

1. 1. Confirm your contact information
      
      It's important that your contact information is up to date so that we can send you the details of the proposed agreement and your link to vote online on the agreement.
      
      Click here to log in to the BCGEU Member Portal to review and update your contact information. If you don't have a Member Portal account yet, click here to request one, and then watch for an email with instructions on how to activate your account. 
      
      Ask your coworkers if they have received this email - if they have not received it, encourage them to visit the Member Portal at https://my.bcgeu.ca/signup to update their information and make sure they receive the collective agreement information and voting link by email.
      
      
   2. Information about the proposed agreement
      
      Detailed information about the proposed collective agreement changes will be sent out, along with invites to attend telephone town hall sessions to hear from members of your bargaining team and ask questions. 
      
      
   3. Vote on the proposed agreement 
      
      As long as we have your current email address, voting will be quick and easy through our online process. Voting dates and more information will be circulated as soon as possible.

 In solidarity,

Your Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association

UWU/MoveUP