Your Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) bargaining committee met with the employer on April 24 to put forward another round of monetary proposals and receive counter proposals from Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) representatives.
“This week your FBA bargaining committee continued tabling monetary proposals with the employer, including provisions that would enhance shift, weekend and trade premiums, overtime pay, the uniform allowance, and severance,” says FBA lead negotiator and HEU secretary-business manager Lynn Bueckert. “The HEABC also tabled a number of staffing counterproposals which our committee will take away for a deeper review.”
Outside of direct negotiations with the HEABC, the bargaining committee is working diligently through the bargaining proposals submitted last year by HEU members and the other FBA member unions. In particular, proposals on a general wage increase, protections from future economic instability, and wage comparability to ensure equal pay for equal work are still being developed by your FBA bargaining committee for tabling later this spring.
“Looking ahead, with bargaining meetings with HEABC scheduled until late July, members can expect to hear more about our proposals, along with the employer’s counterproposals for better compensation, enhanced working conditions and greater inclusion,” says Bueckert. “Your committee is working extremely hard through the 170 proposals in our bargaining package to ensure each and every one adopted by the unions are submitted to HEABC at the negotiating table.”
In early May, all HEU members who are covered by the FBA collective agreement will receive a special bargaining mailing package. In it, members will find an overview of the bargaining process and a brief report from the lead negotiator about bargaining priorities and the need for all members to stay updated and be part of a collective effort to support the goals of bargaining.
“It’s important to bear in mind that the best source for accurate information about FBA bargaining can always be found on your union bulletin board, in your email in-box, and on HEU’s website and social media channels,” says Bueckert.
“As well, as part of getting the FBA’s position out to the broader public, throughout May and into early June, HEU will be reminding British Columbians about the challenges facing the entire team of Facilities members and the solutions needed to improve health care through a robust radio and social media advertising campaign."