Health care workers ratify collective agreement in province-wide vote

Health care workers have ratified a new five-year collective agreement by a vote of 64.6 per cent. 

Vancouver (27 June 2014) — The agreement between the eleven-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) and the government’s bargaining agent — the Health Employers Association of B.C. — covers 47,000 workers in hospitals, care homes, emergency health services, logistics and supply warehouses, and other settings.

Health care workers negotiate limits on contracting out, improvements to benefits, wage increases, and funding for education and skills upgrading

It includes 5.5 per cent in general wage increases, a cap on contracting out of 500 full-time equivalent positions over the life of the agreement, a transition to joint administration of benefits, and continued funding of a union-managed education and skills-upgrading program.

In a separate set of provisions relating to Emergency Health Services (EHS), workers represented by the B.C. Government and General Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) negotiated changes to maintain Short-Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP) coverage. They also negotiated to transition BCGEU/NUPGE members to coverage under the FBA agreement for most other provisions. Most significantly this contract results in a seven per cent increase in annual salary per full-time equivalent due to an increase in the weekly hours from 35 to 37.5 and a modest increase in vacation entitlement for some members.

The agreement was reached after union members delivered a 96 per cent strike mandate to their negotiating team in May.

The FBA says the agreement provides some stability and certainty in a sector that’s been racked by privatization and restructuring.

Agreement covers 47,000 workers from five different unions

The Hospital Employees’ Union represents about 85 per cent of health care workers covered by these talks. An additional 14 per cent are represented by BCGEU/NUPGE, CUPE Local 873 and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 882/882H.

Other members in the FBA are represented at the bargaining table by the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers Local 5.

The bargaining unit is comprised of a wide range of occupations, including care aides, emergency services staff, trades and maintenance workers, activity aides and rehab assistants, administrative staff, cleaning and dietary staff, and many others.

The term of the agreement is April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE