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Facilities unions to seek strike mandate from members.
Vancouver (01 April 2014) — Health care workers are being asked to send employers a clear message that they’re united in their determination to secure a respectful collective agreement settlement that protects public health care services and jobs, and provides for safer workplaces.
Health care workers show strength in preparations for upcoming negotiations
The multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) voted unanimously to seek a strike mandate from members after ten weeks of negotiations failed to produce an agreement that provides job security, protects benefits and addresses out-of-control injury rates in health care.
The current collective agreement expires on Monday, March 31, 2014.
Health employers have already rejected several proposals
The Health Employers Asociation of B.C. (HEABC) has rejected the FBA’s proposal to extend the moratorium that was negotiated in the contract in 2012. The current moratorium against contracting out expires on Sunday.
Employers have also rejected union proposals to improve health care delivery through better use of ambulance paramedics in the community. Instead, HEABC is seeking to rewrite long-standing contract provisions that have covered B.C. paramedics for decades.
The Hospital Employees' Union (HEU), the B.C Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Local 873), and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE Local 882/882H) represent just over 99 per cent of health care workers covered by these talks. The Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada Local 5 collectively represents the remaining members from seven other unions.
The collective agreement includes a diverse group of occupations such as care aides, ambulance paramedics, health records staff, laboratory and other diagnostic specialists, sterile supply technicians, emergency dispatch personnel, trades and maintenance workers, activity aides and rehab assistants, IT specialists, pharmacy technicians, admitting and booking clerks, administrative staff, cleaning and dietary staff, and many others.
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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