From its beginnings as a merger of separate women’s and men’s unions at Vancouver General Hospital during the Second World War, the Hospital Employees’ Union has expanded to become the province’s oldest and largest health care union.
With 49,000 members working in all areas of the health care system – acute care hospitals, residential care facilities, community group homes, outpatient clinics and medical labs, community social services, and Indigenous health agencies, HEU members work in more than 270 job classifications representing patient care, clerical, support, trades and maintenance, and patient care technical occupations.
“On behalf of our Provincial Executive, I want to thank every single HEU member for their dedication and commitment to providing quality care to the citizens of our province,” says HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside.
“They are often unsung heroes, but they are invaluable members of the health care team. We are proud of the work they do, and grateful for the care they provide in often challenging work environments.”
HEU Day was first recognized in 2014 – on the 70th anniversary of the union’s charter from the Trades and Labour Congress in 1944.
Please send photos of any local HEU Day celebrations to heu@heu.org – or tag us with #heuday2017 on social media posts.
Happy HEU Day!