The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4

AFTER NINE MONTHS OF HARD BARGAINING, WE HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE. LET ME TELL YOU HOW WE GOT HERE.

You have given the bargaining committee a clear mandate: restore competitive wages, protect benefits and protect working conditions, including dealing with workload and call issues. We have spent nine months trying to kick start negotiations and make inroads on these issues.

But HEABC insists there will be no deal without concessions.

We say: absolutely not.

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4

HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS DELIVERED A RESOUNDING 90 PERCENT STRIKE VOTE TO BACK THEIR BARGAINING COMMITTEE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH BC'S HEALTH EMPLOYERS.

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4

IN AN IDEAL WORLD, STRIKES WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.

Employees and employers would meet at the bargaining table, discuss bargaining proposals based upon reason, justice and mutual respect. They would use objective data and negotiate a settlement. In reality, that is often what happens. However, sometimes there are significantly different points of view about what is -reasonable," -just" and -objective." When that happens, settlements depend on strength and determination.

PROTECTING OUR PATIENTS

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4

IN OUR LONG HISTORY, HSA MEMBERS HAVE RARELY FELT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PREPARE FOR A STRIKE.

Our health science professional members have only gone on strike three times before now, and the last time more than 11 years ago. Its not something we take lightly.

That is why it is so extraordinary that 90% of our health science professional members just voted in favour of a strike.

On the eve of the implementation of a new province-wide policy that threatened to fire health science professionals who refused to declare whether they had been vaccinated against seasonal flu, Health Sciences Association  has negotiated an agreement that sees the government back off on the policys punitive aspects.

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) reviewed the employer's latest offer.  Although a wage increase is included in the offer, it is tied securely to a corresponding "offset" (cost savings) from the collective agreement.  The offset is matched by the employer to provide the wage increase.  There is no guarantee built into the proposal that the wage increase will not be eroded in the future by increases to the cost of the provisions where the 'savings' were proposed.

70,000 B.C. health care workers are still without new collective agreements

Its time for a fair and reasonable deal.

Speakers:

• Jim Sinclair & Irene Lanzinger, BC Federation of Labour
• Darryl Walker, President, BCGEU
• Bonnie Pearson, Secretary-Business Manager, HEU
• Reid Johnson, President, HSA

Where:

• Vancouver Art Gallery, North Side

When:

Hospital pharmacists are chronically understaffed. Theyre overextended in caring for patients who are increasingly acutely ill when they arrive at hospital. Clinical pharmacists ... along with other health science professionals -- are concerned that a chronic recruitment and retention crisis is eroding clinical care in BC.

Clinical pharmacists have been speaking up to government representatives and reaching out to supporters about their important role in quality health care:

How do we work together against violence in health care workplaces? For the first time ever, the annual international conference to counter violence in the health sector is taking place in North America.

More than 470 participants from around the world have gathered at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Richmond to hear from experts and take part in workshops at the Violence in the Health Sector ... Linking Local Initiatives with Global Learning conference.

Summary

• High profile targeted strike action by community social service workers took place in Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George last week, with considerable public support and excellent media coverage;
• Political action also took place today at Social Development Minister Moira Stillwells office in Vancouver;
• Further targeted job action will take place late this week, with details to be announced.

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