The bulk of savings announced in the Liberal government's last-ditch attempt to convince British Columbians they can present a balanced budget is coming out of the health care system, Finance Minister Mike de Jong said today in releasing the Liberal government's last budget before this spring's election.

"If you reduce spending in health care, you reduce services to British Columbians. It's that simple," said Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of BC, the union representing 17,000 members of the modern health care team.

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 -- the Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) and PosAbilities -- but also agencies in Victoria, Prince George, the Kootenays, Coquitlam, Surrey and Vancouver.

Nearly 500 family service workers across British Columbia are striking on Wednesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 7.

Family service workers work with vulnerable families. They intervene when children or youth are at risk. They help with substance addictions. They work with teenage or single parents trying to make ends meet. They provide family counselling, vocational and life skills training, job placement services, assessment, therapy, infant and supported child development, and autism intervention.

Nearly 3,400 community living workers who support adults, children and infants with disabilities and their families are going on strike, starting Wednesday, January 30.

The 24-hour job action will affect Richmond-based Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) and Burnaby-based PosAbilities, the two largest community social service agencies in British Columbia. Agencies in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Vanderhoof, Trail, Salmon Arm, Castlegar, Creston and Cranbrook will also be picketed.

Significant job action will take place in Community Living next week across British Columbia.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association is strategically escalating job action to continue
pressuring the BC government. After nearly a year of bargaining, the employer - the Community Social
Services Employers Association - has not even made a monetary offer at the bargaining table.

Vancouver Sun

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, which advises people to stay home if they think they have the flu, has been told to stop punishing its own workers for calling in sick.

In response to a grievance launched last year by the Hospital Employees' Union and other health unions, arbitrator Vince Ready has ruled that the health authority must end the practice of denying overtime, reducing hours or threatening to fire workers for illness or injury.

Mediator Vince Ready facilitated resumption of discussions between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) this week.

HSPBA Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers said the two days of discussion on Monday and Tuesday were productive.

Health care unions have won a significant victory protecting the rights of sick and injured workers who were being punished by Vancouver Coastal Health.

PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL HSA MEMBERS AT CML

CML members at LifeLabs locations must use alternate entrances during BCGEU job action BCGEU members who work at private medical laboratories owned by LifeLabs will begin rotating strikes at various LifeLabs locations on Monday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 22.

This fall, HSA successfully led negotiations with the Ministry of Health to eliminate the punitive aspects of BCs new policy on mandatory flu vaccinations 
 
Click here to read bulletin on flu vaccination policy November 30