Your representatives from the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) met with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) on May 15 to continue discussions on a renewed collective agreement for members in the Facilities subsector.
“More proposals and counterproposals were tabled during the day of negotiations with health care employers, covering staffing levels, overtime, health and safety, job postings and applications, and union rights” says FBA lead negotiator and HEU secretary-business manager Lynn Bueckert. “Employers also came to the table with a proposal for continuing with provisions for greater inclusion at the workplace.”
Outside of face-to-face negotiations, the FBA committee continues its work on finalizing the remaining suite of monetary proposals including general wage increases, protections from future economic instability, and wage comparability to ensure equal pay for equal work.
“For the past several months, survey after survey shows that FBA members have consistently identified compensation as a top priority for bargaining,” says Bueckert. “And this is despite the historic wage settlement secured during our last round of Facilities bargaining, along with the other important strides in partnership with the current B.C. government to boost member income, such as the contracting in of 5,000-plus support worker members.”
“Looking outside B.C., the recent decision by Prime Minister Mark Carney to not table a budget creates renewed anxiety for public services and the future of health care,” says Bueckert. “The Prime Minister campaigned on historic increases in areas like defence, while keeping massive tax breaks in place for the wealthy and corporations – leaving less money for other priorities -- so until we see a budget we have no idea what’s in store for health care.”
In other news, HEU’s advertising campaign that calls for more support of the Facilities team who deliver health care continues into its second week. To see the video ad that has now been viewed over 200,000 times in its first ten days online, visit the website here https://thisishealthcare.ca/.
"In addition to our ads on radio and social media channels that urge employers and the government to make health care better by taking care of workers, FBA members can also spread the word about what's at stake on their social networks,” says Bueckert. “FBA members have important stories to tell of the challenges they face daily at work -- from working short to the health and safety dangers facing health care workers every day.”
To share the FBA's message with friends, family and followers that members want to deliver the best public care for British Columbians, please visit our social media tool here.