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Negotiations affect 17,000 professionals working in B.C. hospitals and communities.
Vancouver (18 June 2010) - The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) has tabled proposals aimed at protecting and improving quality public health care in hospitals and communities across British Columbia.
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Two key proposals deal with continued problems health authorities have in keeping and recruiting the health science professionals critical to the modern health care team.
“We know, and employers know, that without health science professionals, the health care system cannot function to its capacity. Without the highly specialized diagnostic, clinical, and rehabilitation specialists, wait lists grow,” says Maureen Headley, chief negotiator and executive director of labour relations and legal services for the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE).
“We have tabled proposals that focus on these problems and reflect a real commitment to have an in-depth and detailed discussion about the challenges in recruitment and retention. The ultimate goal is to have a creative discussion and develop strategies that address these continuing issues,” Headley says.
The proposal calls for a working group to be established to collect and analyze data to identify the disciplines, professions and regions where staffing shortages exist. The group would also explore factors that cause the shortages, including availability of training spaces, benefits such as vacation, scheduling and support for professional development.
The working group would identify best practices and appropriate solutions to improve recruitment and retention in the health science professions.
The proposal on retention addresses the demonstrated commitment of members to career development. A working group is proposed to make recommendations to enhance career-laddering opportunities for health science professionals.
This working group would identify barriers to effective career laddering and leadership positions for health science professions, and make proposals to remove those barriers and include more highly specialized health science proposals in leading the modern health care team.
Bargaining for a new collective agreement for B.C.’s health science professionals, the trusted members of the modern health care team who deliver the highly specialized diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services patients depend on for their good health, began in April and is scheduled to continue in July. The collective agreement expired March 31.
The HSPBA represents approximately 17,000 health science professionals working in B..C hospitals and communities. They are members of HSABC, the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Professional Employees’ Association PEA).
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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