As the Ministry of Health moves ahead with the first phase of its new shared services organization implementation plan announced last December, HEU is taking action to safeguard members’ jobs and ensure health employers meet their collective agreement obligations.
The change in operations is expected to impact management staff, members in other health care unions, and HEU members covered by the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) collective agreement.
“Given B.C.'s history of health service consolidation, HEU knows today’s news will create considerable anxiety and concern for the members going through this transition,” says HEU secretary-business manager Lynn Bueckert. “We also know we need every worker to support a stretched health system where people continue to worry that it might not be there when they need it.”
“I want each member to know that the union remains focused on advocating for those impacted by these changes – that means protecting job security, ensuring fair processes, and enforcing the protections the union has negotiated in the members' collective agreement.”
As part of the Ministry’s implementation process, the BC Shared Health Services (BCSHS) agency was formally established on April 1 to centralize certain corporate and administrative functions across the province’s health system. The Ministry says its goal is to support innovation and coordination so health authorities can stay focused on frontline services, while shared functions are consolidated.
"The new agency will be part of the Health Employers Association of BC which means this transition process will be governed by the existing public sector health care collective agreements and labour legislation,” says Bueckert. “The Ministry has committed to no layoffs during the initial consolidation phase, and any impacted members will receive the same pay, time off and benefits they currently receive.”
Service consolidation will occur in phases starting this summer and the first phase will involve the transfer of several services to BCSHS including:
- Information management and information technology, excluding clinical informatics and biomedical engineering;
- Supply chain;
- Finance services related to accounts payable and accounts receivable; and
- BC Health Workday as part of human resources.
Over the next few weeks, health employers will confirm phase one timelines and identify the specific teams and employees transferring, with BCSHS providing direct updates to those workers making the first transition.
“HEU will be relying on Article 17 - Technological, Automation, and Other Changes under the FBA collective agreement along with other contract provisions and related labour statutes,” says Bueckert.
“Using Article 17 triggers a suite of rights that help preserve job security, stabilize employment and guard against any future workforce cuts due to operational changes by health employers,” says Bueckert. “HEU is very familiar with these transfers and has successfully protected members rights in the past.”
Members impacted by the transition can read frequently asked questions with answers here online about the new agency and what it may mean for their work.
If you have been advised or believe you will be part of the transfer, please reach out to your shop steward. The union will keep affected members informed as the employer moves this process along. Additionally, HEU is holding a telephone town hall for FBA local executive officers currently planned for Thursday, April 30.