Today, the new province-wide BC Shared Health Services (BCSHS) agency announced revised timelines for transitioning some Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) staff during the first phase of the organization’s implementation process.
“According to BCSHS, members working in information management and information technology will now transition five months later than originally planned,” says HEU secretary-business manager and FBA lead negotiator Lynn Bueckert. “For members working in finances or supply chain, your transfers will still proceed in late October and November respectively as announced earlier this spring.”
On October 23, in-scope accounts payable and accounts receivable staff will transfer employment to the new agency, while supply chain staff are moving over on November 20. The transfer of affected information management and information technology members is now shifting by five months to January 29, 2027 to reduce service disruption throughout the December holiday period.
The BCSHS also re-committed to ensuring affected members will receive letters well in advance of these dates to give everyone time to ask questions and understand the process involved. Under Article 17 of the FBA’s collective agreement, affected members must be notified of transfers in writing at least 30 days before their transfer date. In addition, when members are given written notice of their transfer, employers must also provide a copy of any negotiated transfer agreement.
"The FBA’s work to protect job security, ensure fair processes, and enforce the protections the union has negotiated in the collective agreement continue to remain front and centre in our work on the labour adjustment process with health employers,” says Bueckert. “As I reported at the outset of this implementation process in April, the Ministry of Health 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.”
For more information about the transition, members can read frequently asked questions with answers here about the new agency and what it may mean for their work.