On Tuesday, July 20, HEU members held roadside demonstrations in five locations across the province in a Day of Action to reunite the health care team. Their actions drew attention to the union’s Make It Public campaign to end the privatization of hospital cleaning and dietary services.
Hundreds of contracted support service members and allies came out to rallies in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Chilliwack, and on UBC’s campus to share the message that privatized hospital workers are critical members of the public health care team and should be brought back under the health authorities.
Meena Brisard, HEU’s secretary-business manager, rallied alongside members in Surrey who received supportive messages and car honks from the public throughout the afternoon.
“It was an exciting opportunity for me to stand alongside HEU members for the first time as the new Secretary-Business Manager,” says Brisard. “I got to see first-hand the energy and enthusiasm that our union’s contracted support service workers bring to this fight.”
The workers were also joined at the rallies by HEU members under FBA (Facilities Bargaining Agreement), members from other unions, and supportive members of the public.
With collective agreement negotiations underway for more than 4,500 members employed by corporate contractors, HEU members organized these rallies to call on the provincial government to act now on its 2020 election commitment to transition this workforce back to B.C.’s public health authorities.
“As we start to come out of this pandemic, B.C.’s health authorities can ensure a stable workforce with fair wages and good working conditions,” says Brisard. “It’s time to reunite the health care team.”
Following the largest mass firing of women workers in Canadian history in 2003 by the BC Liberal government, four foreign-owned, multinational corporations – Acciona, Aramark, Compass-Marquise and Sodexo – were contracted by Vancouver Island Health, Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Healthcare, and Provincial Services Health Authority to provide housekeeping and dietary services.
HEU represents more than 4,500 contracted support service workers providing housekeeping, dietary and other services. View HEU’s campaign.
Photos of HEU’s Day of Action to reunite the health care team.