B.C.’s largest health care union says it will work hard to forge a solid working relationship with the province’s new health and labour ministers in an effort to end the chaos and confrontation that’s marked health care during the past four years.
And the Hospital Employees’ Union is urging the new B.C. cabinet to adopt a more even-handed approach to health care and health care workers.
“The results of the election leave little doubt that voters want more balance in the political life of this province and that fixing health care remains the top-of-mind issue for the public,” says HEU secretary-business manager Judy Darcy.
“Unfortunately, the last four years have left HEU members feeling devalued and unrecognized for their varied and critical roles in health care.
“I’m hopeful that Premier Campbell and his new cabinet will recognize our members’ contributions to health care and work in partnership with our union to improve the delivery of health care to British Columbians,” says Darcy.
Darcy congratulated George Abbott and Mike de Jong on their new roles as B.C.’s health and labour ministers and says she’ll press for early meetings to familiarize them with HEU members’ work.
“And in light of the recent Supreme Court decision on the Canada Health Act, we’re especially anxious to meet Mr. Abbott to discuss how we can move quickly to strengthen public health care,” says Darcy.
HEU’s 42,000 members work in B.C. hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community delivering health care and community social services.
They provide direct care and include licensed practical nurses, care aides, orderlies and activity aides. HEU members also work as medical records and nursing unit coordinators; trades; OR and ICU cleaners; lab, x-ray and pharmacy assistants; medical technologists; information systems specialists; and dietary and laundry workers.
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Contact: Mike Old, communications director, 604-828-6771 (cell)