Statement from the BC Federation of Labour on the passing of Jack Layton.

Members iin the Lower Mainland who are concerned about requirements for on call and call back work are encouraged to participate in discipline-specific conference calls starting tonight, Monday Augus 22 at 7 p.m., for members who work in CT.

Call in numbers

• Toll free         1.877.385.4099
• Local               604.899.2339
• Participant access code     58180

Conference calls for other disciplines are scheduled as follows:

The BC Federation of Labour is offering a number of occupational health and safety courses throughout the province. 

Members may apply for reimbursement of course fees under the OH&S education budget.

A tentative agreement has been reached for British Columbias 15,000 community-based social service workers, thereby averting a strike. Talks went into the weekend to avert looming job action.

Key bargaining demands were met, as the tentative agreement improves job security and fair work practices for workers, such as bumping, job selection language and bullying. In addition, the government has approved a $600,000 retraining grant for workers in the sector.

The bargaining association unanimously recommends the settlement.

Last ditch community social services bargaining talks resumed August 9, and lasted through the week. Talks are set to continue on Monday.

Your bargaining committee has been clear that any agreement must focus on your key demands - namely job security, fair work practices, and dealing with the continuing bleeding of jobs and decimation of services in the sector.

On May 30, you gave your bargaining committee an 82% strike mandate, which expires on August 30. Any agreement must be reached before that date.

Vancouver Coastal Health has invited Health Science Professional staff to attend VCHs staff forums regarding an employer-initiated process to review the current practice leadership structure. The meetings will be held at a variety of locations August 8-12.

Health Sciences Association is conducting a random survey of members who work on call or experience call-back. The on line survey, which is being conducted by Viewpoints Research, will sample the views of several hundred HSA members around the province over the next three weeks.

The Municipal Pension Plan has scheduled seminars for HSA members as follows:

HSA reported on July 8, 2011 that the union and the employer had decided to ask arbitrator Vince Ready to assist the parties in resolving outstanding issues in the employers plans for the Lower Mainland consolidation of Health Information Management services, and to finalize a labour adjustment agreement.