January 31, 2013

VANCOUVER – After almost a year of bargaining for a new contract, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) has reached a tentative agreement for nearly 17,000 health science professionals working in hospitals and communities across British Columbia.

“In a very difficult bargaining climate we have reached a tentative agreement which reflects the important work CUPE health care professional do. This agreement will allow members to continue to provide quality health care services to British Columbians,” said CUPE bargaining committee member Chris Losito.

“Our bargaining team worked hard to hold members priorities at the forefront of negotiations and this agreement includes important enhancements for members that will result in improvements to the system,” adds Losito.

The tentative agreement includes wage increases totaling 3 percent, and makes permanent a market adjustment of between 9 and 14 percent over and above the basic wage rates for pharmacists.

It also achieves fairness for all members of the modern health care team by finally recognizing the work and commitment of the team of health science professionals who are there – day or night – to perform the life-saving services that keep British Columbians alive in medical emergencies. The provisions that protect the health and safety of health science professionals in short supply who often work on call, and fairly compensate those who work extraordinary shifts to deliver critical services, are a long-fought for recognition of contribution of these members of the modern health care team.

“The tentative agreement is in line with other BC public sector health contracts negotiated in the past several months, and preserves core benefits,” said Michael McKinley, a CUPE bargaining committee member, and an environmental health officer with Vancouver Island Health Authority.

The agreement brings a return to a 37.5 hour work week for health science professionals, who have for the past several years worked a 36-hour week.

The tentative agreement was achieved after two weeks of intensive discussions facilitated by mediator Vince Ready, and as unions in the HSBPA were surveying members about a provocative “last offer” the government tabled in December. After that offer was tabled, HSPBA stepped away from bargaining to consult members about next steps.

Members who completed the survey resoundingly rejected the government’s December proposals which called for many concessions, including unprecedented reductions in benefits, and a wholesale gutting of the classification system which could have resulted in wage roll-backs.

The tentative agreement reached today includes a commitment to a Pharmacare tie-in which is comparable to pharmaceutical coverage offered by BC Pharmacare, and a joint process to realize savings in extended benefit coverage. In exchange, union members will benefit from the return of a pay-direct card instead of the current system of reimbursement of payment for prescribed drugs.

The tentative agreement covers more than 17,000 health science professionals who deliver health care services in BC hospitals and communities.

CUPE represents approximately 550 health science professionals in the bargaining association. The majority are represented by the Health Sciences Association of BC. Other unions in the Association are the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union, Professional Employees Association and Hospital Employees’ Union.

The HSPBA bargaining committee unanimously voted to recommend acceptance of the tentative agreement, which expires March 31, 2014. Each of the member unions will consider the recommendation of the bargaining committee as they prepare to take the agreement to a vote by members covered by the contract.

January 30, 2013.

Mediator Vince Ready facilitated resumption of discussions between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) last week.

CUPE bargaining committee member, Chris Losito, said the two days of discussion last week were productive.

“We stepped away from negotiations last December to take time to hear from our members so they could give input to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Committee on the direction they wanted to go. We are currently in the process of surveying members through an online poll that gives them an opportunity to provide their feedback on the government’s offer,” Losito said.

CUPE National Representative Justin Schmid said the response to the survey has been good.

“We remain committed to hearing from members and ensuring they are well represented at the bargaining table. This survey gives CUPE members an opportunity to consider the elements of the government’s proposal, and to provide feedback that will help the bargaining committee work towards achieving a collective agreement that reflects the value of health science professionals on the health care team,” he said. 

Talks are continuing this week with Mediator Ready’s assistance.

The survey remains open until Friday, February 1.

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January 18, 2013

As you know, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) is currently attempting to negotiate a new employment contract with the BC government.

Last month, after months with no offers from the government, the HSPBA led a series of rotating strikes involving members like you. The strikes were called off when the government tabled a new offer.

We’d like to find out more about what you think about the offer made by the government.

We will be conducting an on-line poll over a two week period beginning today (Jan. 18) and ending on February 1 at 5:00 pm.  The poll is an important part of the member consultation that will guide the bargaining committee through the crucial weeks to come.

To participate in the poll, please check your personal email for an invitation that will be sent today to all CUPE members covered by the Health Science Professionals collective agreement. The invite will include a link to the online poll.

If your local does not have your personal email, please contact a member of your local’s executive as soon as possible and provide them with this information. If you provide your personal email address to CUPE by Monday, January 28 at 5:00 pm, you will be included in a second round of invites.

If you are aware of CUPE members covered by the Health Science Professionals collective agreement who do not receive an email, please share this information with them.

Prior to completing the poll, members may wish to learn more about the government’s last offer by reading a detailed FAQ document (see below).

Vancouver—The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) has called off rotating strikes planned for this week.

Following three round-the-clock days of talks mediated by veteran labour mediator Vince Ready, the government tabled a proposal just before midnight Saturday for a wage increase and massive concessions. The proposal adds up to a general wage increase of 1.4 per cent over two years – and some health care workers could be facing wage roll backs.

“In our view the government’s proposal was put on the table to force us into taking additional action” says CUPE bargaining committee member Chris Losito. “This would give the government an excuse to recall the legislature to impose a contract. We’ve called off job action to prevent that from happening.”

“We are committed to delivering health care services to British Columbians. Our dispute isn’t with the people who need those services. After nine months of bargaining we still don’t have a contract and it is now clear what the government thinks of the value of health science professionals in the public health care system,” he said.

Losito says the next step is for their bargaining committee to go back to members, share this offer and take direction for next steps from them.

CUPE represents over 500 members in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA). HSA is the lead union in the 17,000 member bargaining association. Other unions in the bargaining association are BCGEU, PEA, and HEU.

For all bargaining updates and information on CUPE’s health sector in BC visit http://bcchs.cupe.ca/

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December 7, 2012

VANCOUVER – Health science professionals began rotating strikes yesterday to put pressure on government to get serious about bargaining a new collective agreement with the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA).

Yesterday pharmacists reduced services to essential services only, while today public health inspectors and licensing officers are reducing their services to essential services only.

The union association advised today that it plans to continue the rotating strike action next week, reducing hospital lab services to essential services at midnight Sunday. There will be no picket lines.

“Health science professionals have waited long enough for a fair and reasonable agreement,” said CUPE National Representative Justin Schmid. “It took nine months of bargaining and the assistance of mediator Vince Ready to get the government to come to the table with their proposals.”

“We will continue to exert pressure to encourage government to work towards achieving an agreement,” he said.

CUPE represents over 500 members in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA). HSA is the lead union in the 17,000 member bargaining association. Other unions in the bargaining association are BCGEU, PEA, and HEU.

December 5, 2012

VANCOUVER – After nine months of bargaining health science professionals are frustrated with the lack of progress in bargaining and lack of willingness from the employer to negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement.

Job action will continue this week starting tomorrow at 9 a.m. when hospital pharmacists will reduce work to essential services only. Thursday at midnight, the rotating job action will move to all public health inspectors and licensing officers, with staff performing only essential services. Medical and diagnostic imaging will also reduce services.

“The government showed little interest in bargaining until we announced that strike action would commence,” said CUPE bargaining committee memberChris Losito. “It was only this week, with the help of mediator Vince Ready, that the government tabled its position at the bargaining table. After seeing their position it is clear we have a long way to go, however we hope that this week is the beginning of meaningful negotiations.”

“Pharmacists will kick off the job action tomorrow,” said Losito. “Friday Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Licensing Officers will take action to highlight the almost $17 per hour difference in wages between these professionals in BC and Alberta.”

Losito says that EHOs and PHIs work to protect public health through efforts to prevent the spread of communicabledisease, highlight food safety and ensure safe drinking water and that they also oversee air quality, land use, tobacco control, emergency response, and emerging environmental public health initiatives while Licensing Officers protect children and adults receiving care in licensed community care facilities.

CUPE represents over 500 members in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA). HSA is the lead union in the 17,000 member bargaining association. Other unions in the bargaining association are BCGEU, PEA, and HEU.