The Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) has finalized the transfer agreement with health employers to protect Hospital Employees Union (HEU) members moving to the new B.C. Shared Health Services (BCSHS) agency.
The agreement covers finance - including accounts payable and receivable, supply chain, and information management and technology (IMIT) positions that are transferring in the first phase. It guarantees no interruption in pay or benefits, seniority and banked time move with affected members. No changes to current work schedules, maintaining current remote work arrangements, and a five-year window to return to your current employer with your seniority, benefits, and service intact.
“We know this transfer has been challenging and worrying for the members affected," says HEU secretary-business manager and Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) lead negotiator Lynn Bueckert. “We went into this negotiation to make sure none of our members lose what they’ve earned, and this agreement does that.”
“HEU will continue to take all steps to safeguard job security, ensure fair processes, and enforce FBA collective agreement protections as the transfers move forward between October and January,” says Bueckert. “HEU will be with members at every worksite meeting to make sure this agreement is honoured and your rights are upheld.”
Phase one transfer dates:
• October 23, 2026, for finance
• November 20, 2026, for supply chain
• January 29, 2027, for IMIT
What’s next?
• The employer must provide written notice of the transfer to each affected member 30 days prior to transfer.
• Members on leave will also be provided with written notice, but they will exercise their rights upon return to work.
• A copy of the transfer agreement and supplementary labour adjustment terms must be provided to the member along with the written notice.
• Employers will schedule meetings with affected members at the worksite level on employer paid time and HEU will attend those meetings. The purpose of the meetings is to review the transfer process and the agreement with affected members and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
Highlights of the agreement:
• The transfer will be seamless with no interruption in pay or benefits. Coverage is maintained.
• All banked entitlements including vacations, special leave, sick leave, and banked overtime will port to the new employer.
• Service for severance and vacation entitlement will also be ported to the new employer.
• Work schedules will remain unchanged.
• Approved vacations will be honoured.
• Members will port their seniority hours.
• Members will also have their seniority hours retained for a minimum of five years at the employer they transfer from (the sending employer) and can use that seniority to access employment opportunities with the sending employer which includes applying for vacancies or registering on a casual list with the sending employer.
• Members who are re-employed in a regular position with the sending employer within five years from the transfer date will have the ability to port back seniority, banked entitlements, and service entitlements.
• The sending employer must advise affected members in writing how to continue to view and apply for postings before the transfer date.
• Members on leave are protected on their return.
• There are protections and clarity for members returning from long-term disability.
• There are protections for members currently occupying a temporary position.
• There is support to transition members who are in the Provincial Nominee Program.
• Remote work agreements will remain unchanged at the time of transfer.
• There is a committed intention that HEABC will not make an application to remove transferring members from the Facilities subsector.
• Health employers will create a half-time dedicated shop steward appointed by HEU to support affected members transferring. The steward position will remain until March 31, 2029.
If you have questions, please reach out to your local shop steward or HEU representative.
The full agreement can be found here: 2026 Shared Services Transfer Agreement