The spirit of the negotiated agreement surrounding the change from a 36-hour to a 37.5-hour work week was confirmed this week as the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) reached agreement on a process to implement the 37.5 hour work week agreed to in the recently ratified collective agreement.
Following a consultation process that can only be described as a sham, BC Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid – on the day before the current government dissolves – announced today the enactment of legislation that dramatically changes the structure of collective bargaining in health care, HSA President Reid Johnson said today.
Medical Laboratory technologists at (PHSA) Whistler Health Care Centre joined HSA on February 27.
The employees approached HSA about becoming members of the union and the decision to join was unanimous. This new chapter is a first – no other employees of Whistler Health Care Centre are unionized.
In a recent letter from human resources managers at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, employees have been told they will be moving to a five-day 7.5 hour work week and that nine-day fortnights and EDOs will be eradicated.
The letter completely misrepresents the negotiated agreement reached on the shift to a 37.5 hour work week from the current 36 hour work week worked by health science professionals, says HSA’s Executive Director of Legal and Labour Relations Jeanne Meyers.
With the exception of some portions of the collective agreement ratified March 6, all provisions of the HSPBA collective agreement come into force and effect today, April 5, 2013.
There are some exceptions, as specified in negotiations, as follows:
Wages
The 2012-2014 HSPBA collective agreement includes a new $225,000 Professional Development Fund for use by all HSPBA members, including HSA members, over the term of the collective agreement.
To maximize the number of members eligible to apply for the funding, there will be two deadlines: One for courses commenced between April 1, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and another for courses commenced between October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.
BY REID JOHNSON
PRESIDENT, HSA
As The Report magazine went to press, our community social service members were just voting on their tentative agreement. But for most members, another hard round of bargaining has come to an end.
Following the March 6, 2013 ratification of the HSPBA collective agreement, a wage increase of 2 per cent for all members, excluding pharmacists, will be implemented. This increase is effective the first pay period following ratification, which is the pay period of March 15 to 28. Members are currently receiving pay stubs for the pay period of March 1 to 14. There is no wage increase effective for that period.
Members are encouraged to check their pay stubs to ensure the increases are applied.
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.
More than 100 people didn't let a light rain dampen their enthusiasm for the proposed $300-million expansion of Penticton Regional Hospital.
The placard-waving crowd turned out for Wednesday's outdoor rally next to the hospital, reiterating previous calls for provincial government money for the project. Dozens of passing motorists honked their horns in support.
The rally followed the recent provincial budget, which contained no designated funding towards a new ambulatory care tower at PRH.
