In the spirit of the season, the HEU Provincial Executive and staff want to send heartfelt thanks to all members for the dedication and caring you bring to your work every single day of the year.
While many British Columbians prepare to take some time off to celebrate with family and friends, health care – as you know – is needed every day, 24-7.
And we also want to thank and appreciate the thousands of HEU members who will be working throughout the season to provide critical care to the people of our province.
Looking back as the year draws to a close, 2018 has been a banner year for HEU.
We were thrilled to see the B.C. legislature repeal Bills 29 and 94, restoring rights ripped away from healthcare workers by the B.C. Liberals in 2002. We’re optimistic about a Labour Code review that recommends more job security for contracted workers. And we applaud increased funding for seniors’ care that will bring more care aides into the system.
All these achievements are thanks to HEU members who told their stories, spoke to politicians and media, got involved in elections, and stood strong in their locals and in their communities for fairness, accountability and respect.
And it was a busy year for bargaining. In our public sector, we concluded agreements in facilities, community health and community social services. Members in the facilities subsector will vote on their tentative agreement in January (details to follow). We bargained numerous collective agreements in our independent sector, and welcomed more than 1,000 new workers to the union.
We also held our largest convention ever, bursting with the energy and passion of almost 700 delegates from locals around the province.
As we look toward the New Year and celebrating our 75th anniversary, we are hopeful that the future for health care workers and health care will continue to improve under the BC NDP government.
We wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.
Happy holidays!
Barb Nederpel, President
Jennifer Whiteside, Secretary-Business Manager
Betty Valenzuela, Financial Secretary