In the summer of 2011, the FBA Education Fund received a new $1.25M to allocate to members, bringing the total to $7.5M of FBA education funding since 2006.
The FBA Education Fund is a health care education and training fund managed by the unions in the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA). The fund provides skills upgrading and career mobility opportunities for union members covered by the Facilities Subsector Collective Agreement. The application and selection process is overseen by union members and staff. Up until now, about 1,500 applications for training assistance from every occupational group have been supported.
Downloadable information
Please read the overview document before completing the application form. This includes applicaitons for the Pharmacy Tech Bridging training.
Short Term Training
The FBA Education Fund is currently accepting short-term training applications. Short-term applications are processed as in the order they are received, if all necessary documents are included (ie: includes a copy of course acceptance/registration).
Please note that only applications where the majority of training is complete by March 31, 2012 will be eligible.
Overview and application form: Short-Term Training
Pharmacy Tech Applications
All eligible applicants who have received a CCO position will be approved for funding. Receipts for reimbursement will be accepted until April 30, 2012.
If there are remaining funds after all CCO approvals are complete, the FBA Education Fund Committee will determine where to allocate these remaining funds. At this time, all remaining Pharmacy Technician applicants will be contacted with a funding decision. Thank you for your patience.
Overview and application form: Pharmacy Technicians
Long-Term Training (applications are now closed)
The deadline to apply for long-term funding was October 28, 2011. All applicants will be contacted by mail as soon as possible. Thank you your patience.
Please watch the HEU website for future updates on the FBA Education Fund - long-term funding.
For FBA Education Fund information, contact your local shop steward, local executive or union servicing representative; email <jhumphrey@heu.org> or call the FBA Education Fund at 604-456-7146 or toll-free 1-800-663-5813, extension 7146.
FBA background
The Hospital Employees’ Union is the largest of the 10 Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) unions – representing about 35,000 health care workers – followed by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union covering 1,300 members.
The other unions are: the International Union of Operating Engineers; the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; the United Steelworkers of America; British Columbia Nurses’ Union; the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry.