Tentative agreement in B.C. for health care workers in facilities sub-sector

Two-year proposed settlement reached after nine months of difficult negotiations.

Vancouver (27 Nov. 2012) - A tentative agreement has been reached between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) and B.C.’s health employers.

The agreement covers more than 46,000 health care workers in publicly funded hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency health services, health authority corporate offices and warehouses, and in other settings across the province.

“This tentative agreement took a lot of hard work and tough bargaining. We believe it meets the needs of members in this diverse bargaining unit,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

The FBA unions are recommending the tentative agreement to members.

The two-year proposed settlement comes after nine months of difficult negotiations. It includes:

• a moratorium on layoffs due to contracting out for the life of the agreement;
• the continuation of benefits;
• across-the-board wage increases totaling three per cent during the life of the agreement;
• the continuation, as appendices, of the two existing contracts covering members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 873 and the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) working for the provincial ambulance service.

About 46,000 health care workers in 11 unions are members of the FBA. Members include the BCGEU/NUPGE as well as the Hospital Employees Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees (Local 873) and others. FBA members work in hospitals, residential care facilities and in emergency health services.

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