The multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA), representing more than 60,000 health care workers, resumed bargaining today with B.C.’s public health employers.
Talks were paused August 12, to show support for the BCGEU strike action in the direct public service. BCGEU also returned to the table today in their negotiations with the Public Service Agency.
HEU secretary-business manager Meena Brisard says the FBA bargaining committee is determined to build on productive talks to secure an agreement that tackles the serious problems facing health care workers on the frontlines.
“We have some tough negotiations ahead of us to deal with staffing shortages and burnout, and a critical recruitment and retention crisis that’s pushing workers to the brink,” says Brisard, who is the lead negotiator for the facilities agreement.
“Protecting workers’ wages against rising costs is a top priority and those discussions will continue next week.”
Over the last six months of bargaining, the nine-union FBA has held more than 60 bargaining sessions with the Health Employers Association of BC.
HEU represents more than 90 per cent of the workers covered by the agreement, which expired March 31, 2022.