The facilities bargaining team met with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) again this week, but negotiations are moving slowly.
“The bargaining committee is committed to doing the best job possible for health care workers who deserve better working conditions and a compensation package that protects against rising costs,” says Meena Brisard, HEU secretary-business manager and lead negotiator and spokesperson for the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA).
“Currently, progress is slow, but the committee is working hard formalizing responses to proposals and developing strategies to move negotiations forward.”
There is no update on the wage proposals that the parties exchanged two weeks ago. Bargaining will continue with dates scheduled until the end of May to renew the facilities collective agreement covering more than 58,000 health care workers.
Contract talks between the FBA and HEABC began on February 11. The 2019-2022 facilities collective agreement expired on March 31, but the terms and conditions of the current contract continue while the parties negotiate a new agreement.
Are we taking a strike vote?
- No, not at this time. Strike votes only happen when bargaining is at an impasse.
- As long as the bargaining team and the employer are making progress and have future dates to negotiate – we remain at the table.
- If bargaining reaches an impasse and we need to take a strike vote, HEU will communicate it clearly to members.
- In early April, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) announced they had reached an impasse with the Public Service Agency (PSA) for their public service members and are preparing for a strike vote, which does not cover FBA members.
- Negotiations at the FBA and other public sector tables are at earlier stages than at the BCGEU-PSA table.
To keep up to date on FBA bargaining, please visit www.heu.org.