Representatives from the nine unions in the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) met for the past two days to align priorities and finalize the bargaining package ahead of the first day of negotiations with the Health Employers’ Association of British Columbia (HEABC) on February 21.
“Our strength at the bargaining table comes from our unity,” says Lynn Bueckert, HEU secretary-business manager and lead spokesperson for the FBA. “We know when workers stand together, we have the power to demand fair wages, safer working conditions, and a stronger contract. Solidarity isn’t just a slogan—it’s how we win.”
During the meeting, committee members discussed the bargaining demands submitted from each of the unions in the association and finalized the foundation of a package that aims to deliver meaningful gains at the bargaining table.
The key priorities for members included fair wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living, strengthening workplace safety measures, improving various paid leave provisions, increasing premiums and differentials, and various collective agreement language improvements to enhance member rights in the workplace.
The committee also reaffirmed its support for wage grid adjustments based on the findings from the 2023-2024 wage comparability review that was undertaken by representatives of government, health employers and the FBA. In the last round of bargaining, the FBA negotiated a wage comparability process to address the impact of the BC Liberal wage rollbacks of 2004 that primarily targeted women and racialized workers.
“As we head into this round of bargaining, we will once again coordinate our approach with other public sector unions through the BC Federation of Labour,” says Bueckert. “This will be key to the success for all working people in the public sector as it was during the last of bargaining.”
HEU is the lead union in the multi-union coalition which includes BC General Employees’ Union; International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 882; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 230; BC Nurses’ Union; United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local No. 1598; United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local No. 324; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local No. 138; and Public and Private Workers of Canada Local No. 5.