A second week of negotiations between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) focused on several key non-monetary themes.
In particular, the FBA bargaining committee tabled significant proposals to address occupational health and safety concerns, as well as federal reductions to the number of spaces in the provincial nominee program (PNP).
“HEU members on the FBA bargaining committee provided HEABC representatives with many stories of the challenges they face in the workplace, along with solutions to ensure a safer working environment,” says HEU secretary-business manager Lynn Bueckert.
“The bargaining committee members who come from a wide range of job classifications – including care aide, rehabilitation assistant, clerk, trades, porter, scheduler, and food services are working extremely hard to advocate for members,” says Bueckert. “Together, their voices are shaping our collective efforts at the bargaining table.”
Building on the gains from past negotiations, FBA committee members advanced solutions at the bargaining table to better address workload, exposure to hazards, prevention of workplace violence and ensuring safe manual lifting procedures.
The committee also pressed employers to join us and advocate that the federal government restore thousands of PNP positions that were cut last year.
“B.C.’s health care system can’t afford to lose these essential workers who have stepped up to fill critical roles in our hospitals,” says Bueckert. “With federal cuts to PNP spaces putting the future employment of hundreds of FBA members at risk, HEU launched a campaign this week urging Ottawa to create a clear pathway to permanent residency for these workers.”
To show your support for members impacted by PNP cuts, please add your name to the call for action by visiting www.heu.org/restore-pnp-spots online.
This week, the provincial government also tabled its annual budget that will both increase investments in public health care, as well as provide a measured plan for B.C. as we move forward together through this moment of economic uncertainty.
Overall, the government is boosting health care investments over the next three years to ramp up capacity in the health care system, as well as build new and upgraded care facilities throughout B.C.
Bargaining resumes the week of March 31.