60 per cent say Bill 29 should be repealed while 55 per cent oppose privatization of support services poll
In the year that passed since the Gordon Campbell Liberals passed legislation tearing up health care collective agreements, a new poll shows that public opinion remains solidly opposed to the move.
The McIntrye and Mustel survey commissioned by the Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE) shows that 60 per cent of British Columbians believe that the contract-breaking legislation should be repealed, up from 55 per cent in February, 2002. And two-thirds of British Columbians think the premier broke his promise to health care workers and voters by tearing up these contracts, also up from a year ago.
The telephone survey of 403 British Columbians carried out January 10-15 shows that the public isn’t buying the government’s line that Bill 29 is needed to provide flexibility and put patients first. Sixty per cent believe that Bill 29 paves the way for hospital closures, service cuts and privatization.
“A year has passed but the impact of the Campbell Liberals’ act of legislative vandalism continues to register with British Columbians,” says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. “The public recognizes that privatization is the wrong answer for patients. They’re concerned that skilled and experienced health care workers are getting sacked and that our health care system is in chaos.”
The provincial government and its health authorities are using Bill 29 provisions to contract out a range of health services including housekeeping, laundry, food services and security in hospitals and long-term care facilities. More than 5,000 workers are targeted by privatization to lose their jobs by June.
These moves are attracting a lot of public attention there’s 90 per cent awareness of the government’s contracting out plans up 20 per cent from June. And by a solid margin of 55 to 37 per cent, British Columbians oppose privatization of hospital support services. That’s up from 41 per cent opposed in June, 2002.
In a cautionary note to a government banking on a successful Olympic bid, the poll also shows that nearly 70 per cent of British Columbians agree that breaking legally binding contracts will harm investor confidence and hurt B.C.’s international reputation.
“The Campbell Liberals want to put the province on display to the world but the scenery is not too pretty,” says Allnutt. “It includes closed hospitals, a wholesale sell-off of health services to global corporations and the prospect of thousands of skilled, experienced and mostly female workers dumped on the street. The success of our Olympic bid depends on the premier taking a different path.”
Before the election, Premier Campbell promised to honour negotiated collective agreements covering B.C. health care workers. Last year his government passed a law that makes dramatic changes to these agreements. Looking back, some say Premier Campbell has broken his promise to health care workers and voters. Others say he was right to take this step. Which view is closest to your own?
N=403
%
Feb. 2002 %
Premier has broken his promise
265
66
59
Premier was right to take this step
109
27
35
Don’t know
55
14
13
The provincial government says it altered collective agreements for health care workers to provide flexibility and to put patients first. Health care workers and their unions say the government unilaterally altered contracts to pave the way for hospital closures, service cuts and privatization. Which view is closest to your own?
N=403
%
Feb. 2002 %
Paves the way for hospital closures, service cuts and privatization
248
62
61
Provides flexibility and puts patients first
100
25
25
Don’t know
55
14
13
Do you think the government should revoke this law?
N=403
%
Feb. 2002 %
Yes
240
60
55
No
112
28
34
Don’t Know
51
13
11
Have you heard of the B.C. government’s plans to privatize hospital support services like housekeeping, laundry and food services?
N=403
%
Feb. 2002 %
Yes
363
90
70
No
39
10
29
Don’t know
1
-
1
Do you support or oppose the privatization of hospital support services? PROBE: Strongly or somewhat?
N=403
%
June 2002 %
Strongly support
81
20
22
Somewhat support
68
17
23
Somewhat oppose
61
15
10
Strongly oppose
162
40
31
Don’t know
31
8
15
Total support
149
37
45
Total oppose
223
55
41
A government that breaks legally binding contracts will harm investor confidence and hurt our provinces international reputation. (Test agreement)
N=403
%
Strongly agree
177
44
Somewhat agree
99
25
Somewhat disagree
60
15
Strongly disagree
51
13
Don’t know
16
4
Total agree
276
69
Total disagree
111
28
-30-
For more information or detailed tables, contact Mike Old, communications officer, 604-828-6771 (cell)
The poll is considered accurate to within five per cent, 19 times out of 20.