Thousands of long-term care workers at directly contracted sites are expected to return under the facilities bargaining association (FBA) agreement.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) reached as part of a tentative agreement between the FBA and HEABC is subject to ratification by the parties, expected to be completed by December 19, 2025.
Download the agreement to see details of the MOA:
What this means
This MOA is an important step toward restoring common labour standards and fair working and caring conditions in provincially funded seniors’ care homes - standards that existed before 2002.
Bringing more operators back under HEABC will rebuild fairness, strengthening public health care, and undoing the damage caused by decades of privatization and the gutting of labour standards by the former BC Liberal government.
This win belongs to all HEU members. It strengthens public health care, lifts up workers and improves care for seniors.
HEU will continue fighting for the seniors’ care workers who are not covered by this change.
What to expect
The move back into the FBA for eligible worksites will happen in two phases, beginning in October 2026 and ending in September 2028.
Based on the language in the MOA, it is expected that HEU will know which sites are covered by this by February 1, 2026:
For all operators in receipt of wage levelling, The MOH and HEABC will assess which operators with unionized employees currently meet HEABC membership criteria and share this information with the FBA by February 1, 2026.
More details about timelines and implementation will be shared as they are confirmed.
What sites are covered?
Eligible seniors’ care sites that will return are unionized long-term care and assisted living operators that receive the majority of their funding through the health authority from the provincial government. Currently, these operators are not Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) members, but they meet HEABC membership criteria and directly employ staff.
HEU will update members once a complete list of sites that meet these criteria is available.
FAQ
- If I’m already covered by the FBA agreement, does this change anything for me?
No. If you are already covered by the FBA collective agreement, nothing in this MOA changes your rights, your seniority or your job security.
The workers who will be brought into the FBA through this MOA come from care homes that will now become affiliate employers under the Facilities agreement. Just like all affiliate sites today, seniority is contained within each employer.
What will change is the strength of the sector overall. Bringing more publicly funded seniors’ care workers into the FBA agreement means a more stable workforce, stronger standards across care homes and greater bargaining power for everyone. This is one of the reasons the FBA bargaining team pushed hard for this outcome during negotiations – they understood how important it is for rebuilding seniors’ care and strengthening the Facilities agreement for the long term.
This initiative helps stabilize seniors’ care, supports fair standards for all workers, and reinforces the power of the FBA to deliver improvements for its members.
- Will all seniors’ care workers who are not in the FBA or other public sector collective agreement be covered?
Not all seniors’ care workers will be eligible to re-join the FBA or other public sector collective agreements.
Eligible seniors’ care sites that will return are unionized long-term care and assisted living operators that receive the majority of their funding through the health authority from the provincial government. Currently, these operators are not Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) members, but they meet HEABC membership criteria and directly employ staff.
Subcontracted employers who provide care or support services at long-term care and assisted living facilities and employ HEU members are not eligible to be covered.
HEU is continuing to advocate for all seniors’ care workers who are not covered by this change to be included into the the appropriate public sector agreement.
- When will this change happen?
The Ministry of Health will create a transition schedule to support a phased transition to HEABC membership over a two-year timeframe from October 2026 to September 30, 2027, and then October 1, 2027, to September 30, 2028. More detailed timelines will be shared with members as soon as they are confirmed.
- What happens if my site is included?
Once your worksite is brought into the HEABC, your employment will be covered by the appropriate HEABC collective agreement, such as the FBA agreement.
- What will this mean for my benefits if my site is included?
Workers moving into a public sector collective agreement will gain access to that agreement’s benefits, including extended health, dental and other protections. How much your benefits will change depends on your current benefits plan. We fully expect public sector collective agreement benefits (including the FBA) to meet or exceed current private sector benefits plans.
- Will I have access to a pension if my site is included?
Workers moving into the FBA agreement will gain eligibility to access to the Municipal Pension Plan, giving you a secure, predictable retirement plan.
- Will my seniority transfer to another FBA or public sector worksite if my site is included?
Your seniority will stay with your current employer and worksite. It does not move into the wider FBA (or other public sector collective agreement). You will stay in your current job and transition into the public sector agreement with your position and seniority.
- What if my site is not included in this change?
Some sites and employers will not be covered by this MOA. HEU will continue advocating to bring all seniors' care workers into the Facilities collective agreement.
- Who can I contact if I have questions?
Please be patient as we work with government and employers to implement this MOA. You can contact your HEU shop steward or servicing representative for any additional support.
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