Negotiations for a renewed collective agreement in B.C.'s Facilities health subsector resumed this week. Representatives of the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) held productive discussions and continued to make good progress towards a tentative deal for the tens of thousands of health care workers in B.C.’s biggest public sector bargaining association.
“Heading into week 20 of talks, your bargaining committee got down to the work of securing the outstanding FBA monetary and non-monetary proposals on the table,” says Lynn Bueckert, FBA lead negotiator and HEU secretary-business manager. “And following a day of planning and committee work on Monday, I can report that discussions with health employers over the past several days continue to advance members’ bargaining priorities.”
At other public sector bargaining tables – including Nurses, Health Science Professionals, Community Social Services, Paramedics, and B.C.’s K-12 sector – talks have begun or continue to be underway. Meanwhile, talks for a new Community Health agreement were halted on October 3, after the Community Bargaining Association declared an impasse saying health employers were unable to address the top priorities identified by its members.
The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and Professional Employees Association (PEA) job action continues and has expanded to include nearly 27,000 workers – or three out of four union members. At the same time, non-binding mediation between BCGEU and the government – which commenced on October 18 with mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers – continues and progress remains steady according to the union.
FBA bargaining continues into this weekend.