Contract negotiations

Further to the recently ratified collective agreement between the Health Science Professionals’ Bargaining Association and Health Employers’ Association of BC, the parties have agreed to move the effective date for full implementation of the Pharmacare tie-in to June 1, 2013. Further, the 90-day grace period will be extended to August 31, 2013. The BlueNet direct-pay card will also be implemented...

The B.C. Liberal government began debate last week on Bill 18, legislation that fundamentally alters bargaining in the health sector. In a brief opening to the debate in the B.C. legislature, health minister Margaret MacDiarmid claimed the legislation was in line with last year’s raid by the BC Nurses’ Union on Licenced Practical Nurses represented by HEU and other unions...

Representatives of the Community Social Services Bargaining Association met earlier this week to plan for upcoming ratification votes, which will be held between mid-March and the third week of April. A vote schedule, and a comprehensive report outlining the terms and conditions of the proposed collective agreement, will be made available to members later next week. In addition to producing...

Health science professionals have voted 83 per cent in favour of accepting a new contract that includes wage increases totaling three per cent, and protects the wages of hospital pharmacists who were threatened with wage rollbacks of up to 14 per cent. The agreement was reached between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers’ Association of BC...

Times Colonist (Victoria) Workers who care for some of the province's most vulnerable citizens have reached a tentative two-year deal with the B.C. government. The agreement calls for community social service workers to receive 1.5 per cent wage increases on April 1 and Jan. 1, 2014. In response to one of the unions' key demands, entry-level workers will get an...

After a marathon bargaining session of 13 days, the multi-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) has reached a tentative collective agreement with the employer. The two-year proposed agreement includes an across the board wage increase while protecting health and welfare benefits. Highlights include: A wage increase for all employees: 1.5% on April 1, 2013; 1.5% on January 1, 2014...

There has been some progress at the bargaining table over the last week, and discussions continued through the weekend. The community social services bargaining committee hopes to reach a fair and reasonable agreement, including a wage increase. Your multi-union bargaining committee remains focused on the issues that were identified as priorities by our members. HSA will continue to provide updates...

Workers in Community Health have voted 86% per cent in favour of a two-year contract that provides an across-the-board wage increase, and improved workplace and scheduling provisions. The agreement comes after one year of difficult negotiations with the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC). Ratification votes were held across the province over the past four weeks. Highlights include: 3% wage...

Health science professionals represented by HSA are invited to participate in one of two telephone town hall meetings scheduled for next week. Telephone town hall meeting details: Tuesday, February 19 at 7pm PST Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm PST To join the call, simply answer your personal phone, and you will be connected. Please ensure HSA has your personal /...

Talks restart after two successful weeks of large-scale job action Last Friday, after two successful weeks of large-scale job action in community living and family services, the employer invited the multi-union bargaining association back to the bargaining table. The job action last week by nearly 3,400 community living workers affected the two largest community social service agencies in the province...