The BCGEU and other unions in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) have reached a three-year tentative agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).
 
Highlights of the proposed April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022 agreement include:

• a general wage increase of six per cent over three years
• improvements to address workload, appropriate compensation and job classification, recruitment and retention, and occupational health, safety and violence prevention issues

 
"These negotiations were aimed at achieving a collective agreement that addressed 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."
 
The tentative agreement covers more than 19,000 health science professionals who deliver health care services in B.C. The BCGEU represents approximately 2,100 health science professionals in various disciplines.
 
The HSPBA bargaining committee agreed unanimously to accept the tentative agreement.
 
Details of the agreement will be made available in the coming weeks. Members will have an opportunity to vote on the terms of the tentative agreement in January 2019.