FBA Education Fund Short-Term Training

OVERVIEW OF SHORT-TERM TRAINING CRITERIA

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What is the FBA?

The Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) is the multi-union bargaining agent representing about 38,000 health care workers in British Columbia.

The Hospital Employees’ Union is the largest of the 10 unions – representing about 35,000 members – 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.

What is the FBA Education Fund?

In the 2006 round of bargaining, the FBA secured a $5 million education fund to assist regular employ­ees in taking courses related to their current job or to advance their career in health care through more extensive training programs. The Fund is for the current 2006–2010 collective agreement for the Health Services & Support Facilities Subsector.

Who may apply for funding?

Any HEU member who is a regular full-time or part-time employee or a regular displaced employee on layoff within his/her recall period is eligible to apply for funding.

What training and educational opportunities will the Fund cover?

The training/education must be in a job classification that is in the facilities subsector collective agreement.

Funding will be provided for two types of training – short-term and long-term. For information on long-term training, visit your union's website.

What is short-term training?

Short-term training provides members with opportunities to upgrade skills in their current job, related job, or other classification (if training is in a different job category within the facilities subsector). This includes:

  • courses that range in length from two to 20 days;
  • longer courses taken outside of working hours (i.e. part-time or correspondence courses, evening classes, etc.);
  • applications will be funded on a continuous intake basis, and may take up to five weeks to process;
  • the Fund will pay the cost of the training program and course materials, up to a maximum of $1,200;
  • part-time/distance programs leading to a certificate, diploma or degree - that if available and taken full-time would require more than 20 days’ unpaid leave - may be eligible for up to $2,400 for course costs (i.e. Purchasing Management Association of Canada, Medical Transcription, Nursing Unit Clerk), and
  • the Fund will pay a training allowance (up to $100 per day) to a maximum of 20 days, if unpaid
    education leave for training days is approved by the employer. This amount will be pro-rated for employees working part-time or less than 7.5 hours per day.

EXAMPLES OF SHORT-TERM TRAINING:

  • industry correspondence courses offered for buyers and information technologists
  • evening academic upgrading, such as the Grade 12 biology pre-requisite for the renal dialysis program
  • part-time palliative care courses for care aides and licensed practical nurses
  • upgrade for ticketed trades

What training and education will NOT be covered?

  • conferences and professional association meetings;
  • employer in-service training;
  • self-help, personal interest and leisure courses;
  • courses leading to jobs outside the FBA bargaining unit;
  • out-of-country courses;
  • out-of-province courses (except correspondence), and
  • courses through private educational institutions (see below: Where can training be taken?)

Where can training be taken?

  • The course/program should be taken at a British Columbia public post-secondary college or institute, or a B.C. School District Continuing/Adult Education program.
  • One exemption would be courses for industry-specific required certification, such as:
    > Purchasing Agent certification course;
    > Information Technology hardware or software certification course; or
    > Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) certificate in the HVAC/Refrigeration industry.

Is approval/proof of taking the course needed?

  • Confirmation of Employee Status and Leave Approval Form: The Confirmation of Employee Status section of the form MUST be completed and submitted with ALL applications (even if leave is not required) to be considered for FBA funding.
  • Registration: There must be written proof from the institution of course registration and/or a confirmed start and end date for the training. This also needs to be submitted with the FBA Education Fund Application Form.

What are the timelines for applying for funding?

  • Applications for programs/courses that begin September 1, 2006, or later, will be considered.
  • Short-term training applications will be reviewed on a continuous intake basis, and may take up to five weeks to process.

How do I apply?

For detailed information on how to apply, or to download the application form, check your union's website.

If you want a printed copy of the application form and FBA Education Fund information, contact your local shop steward, local executive or servicing representative, or call the FBA Education Fund at
604-456-7146 or toll-free 1-800-663-5813, extension 7146.

How is the decision about funding made?

The FBA Education Fund Committee has set the criteria for the funding application process. The FBA Education Fund Coordinator will review each application, apply the rules, and make a decision on the funding. The Coordinator will consult with Committee members, if needed.

Successful applicants may receive funding for one short-term and one long-term training program. How­ever, members applying for a second time will only be considered after first-time applicants have been processed.

If a funding application is denied, is there an appeal process?

An appeal process is in place.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP)

FOIPOP protects members from unauthorized use of their personal information. You will be asked to sign the funding application giving the FBA Education Fund Committee permission to:

  • verify information that you provide with unions, employers, educational institutions and/or other funding sources;
  • use your information in statistic reports on the FBA Education Fund, and
  • be included in a follow-up survey to determine the success of the Fund.

For more information:

FBA Education Fund News and Updates

Downloadable Forms

Short-term training Fact Sheet