CBA UPDATE: Community Health Bargaining Continues

July 20, 2012

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) and the Health Employers’ Association of British Columbia (HEABC) continued negotiations for the renewal of the Community Health collective agreement for four days and concluded on July 12, 2012.  Talks are scheduled to continue for two weeks in Vancouver starting August 15.

During the week of bargaining, the CBA and HEABC discussed and tabled counter proposals on the issues of job postings, layoff and recall, arbitration procedure, occupational health and safety, and issues related to casual rights.

The primary non-monetary issues remaining are posting language, grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety, rights for casual employees, anti-bullying and reimbursable allowances.

“While the members of the bargaining committee are pleased that the employer is willing to continue talks we are looking for real progress in August,” said Pat Taylor, CUPE bargaining committee member.

“The members need a fair and reasonable settlement and we want the employer to bring a solid offer to the table,” adds Taylor.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the CBA which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU.  Other Unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

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

HSPBA UPDATE: Contract talks covering BC’s modern health care professionals set to resume in August; work continues on classifications grievance

June 19, 2012

 

Bargaining discussions between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers’ Association of BC (HEABC) for a new collective agreement for BC’s health science professionals will resume at the end of August.

CUPE bargaining committee member Chris Losito said the delay in bargaining is disappointing, especially since HSPBA’s collective agreement expired on March 31, 2012.

“Health science professionals are motivated to continue negotiating in order to achieve a fair and reasonable collective agreement for the 17,000 members of the modern health care team we represent. The entire bargaining committee is extremely disappointed that the employer has ruled out any bargaining dates before the end of the summer,” he said.

HSPBA Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers assures members that the union association is continuing to work on behalf of members on a number of fronts. Since bargaining opened on March 6, bargaining committee members have been working to develop detailed proposals on issues important to members, such as detailed proposals to address workload and other workplace safety issues, including improvements to the existing harassment language. As well, the union has been working on education initiatives to promote recruitment and retention, as well as a fair competitive wage proposal.

”The employer has to understand and take responsibility for the effect that understaffing, financial uncertainty, and workload pressures have on our members. If they wonder why our members need protection during periods of illness and disability they should look to their own budget and planning process. We understand that resources have been made scarce by this government. Our members should not be asked to fund health authority deficits by accepting wages and benefits that put them behind their colleagues in other provinces.  That will not lead to the quality of health care that British Columbia want and need,” Meyers said.

Next week, HSPBA will also be involved in a preliminary hearing on a grievance related to a Joint Classification Committee established in 2010 bargaining.  HSPBA strongly asserts that HEABC must not advance any bargaining proposals that are inconsistent with the parties’ 2010 classification-related memoranda. HSPBA says that HEABC has contravened that MOU by taking the benefit of the Interim Modifications and bringing nothing to the table but proposals which it knew the union would find unacceptable, recycled as they were from much earlier rounds of bargaining at which they had been consistently and clearly rejected.

“In fact, HEABC has instead actively sanctioned the reclassification of some HSPBA members to its own advantage, rather than attempt to address those features of the system which no longer reflect current health care delivery,” Meyers said.

In November 2012, an arbitrator will hear the HSPBA’s policy grievance which alleges that HEABC and its member organizations, while implementing interim classification modifications that saw members lose income, have failed to abide by their obligations under the memoranda.   A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week, where the HSPBA will be seeking an interim order that will include restoring the workplace to those conditions that would exist had employers not implemented the interim classification modifications.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the HSPBA which has over 17,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the HSA.  Other Unions at the table are BCGEU, PEA and HEU.

CBA UPDATE: Community Health talks to continue over weekend into next week

 

June 13, 2012

Negotiations aimed at concluding a new contract covering 16,000 health care and administrative workers in the Community Health sub-sector continued this week in Vancouver. Talks are scheduled to continue over the weekend and into next week.

On Monday and again on Wednesday the Health Employers’ Association of British Columbia (HEABC) presented a broad based benefits proposal.  The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) is reviewing the proposals and we will provide you with the details when we have been able to get clarity.

This week the two parties also discussed issues and exchanged amendments to previously tabled proposals. HEABC and CBA tabled and discussed the grievance and arbitration procedures and continued to discuss the scheduling provisions.

Talks are scheduled to continue for one more week.

The primary non-monetary issues remaining are scheduling, grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety, anti-bullying and allowances.

“This week, while we made some progress, the bargaining committee is now working to fully understand the employer’s benefits proposal,” said Pat Taylor, CUPE bargaining committee member. “We are working through the weekend to narrow the issues.”

Jill Stromnes, CUPE bargaining committee member, says that the bargaining team continues to wait for a fair and reasonable wage offer from HEABC.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the CBA which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU.  Other Unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

CBA UPDATE: Community Health talks continue

 

June 7, 2012

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) met last week and over the weekend in Vancouver to exchange and discuss proposals with the Health Employers’ Association of British Columbia (HEABC).

Last week the two parties discussed issues and exchanged amendments to previously tabled proposals. The CBA tabled counter proposals related to casuals, job postings and classifications. HEABC and CBA tabled and discussed counter proposals to the grievance and arbitration procedures and continued to discuss the scheduling provisions.

In a discussion led by Larry Scott from UFCW, the CBA reviewed the anti-bullying provisions in Bill 14 (amendments to the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2011).

Talks are scheduled to continue for two more weeks.

The primary non-monetary issues remaining are scheduling, grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety, anti-bullying and allowances. Benefits and compensation will be discussed after non-monetary items have been dealt with.

“While some progress is being made, the committee remains frustrated with the slow pace of negotiations,” said Pat Taylor, a CUPE bargaining committee member. “We expect that bargaining will shift to monetary issues shortly.”

Taylor adds that the bargaining committee is waiting for HEABC to bring a fair and reasonable wage offer to the table.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the CBA which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU.  Other Unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

CBA UPDATE: Negotiations continue at both tables where CUPE members are represented

 

May 22, 2012

Negotiations continue at the Health Science Professionals and Community Health bargaining tables, but there is limited progress to report.

Both bargaining tables in the health sector report slow negotiations. Bargaining at the Health Sciences Professionals table continues this week and the Community Health table resumes talks next week.

CUPE has ensured that all essential service levels are in place in the event that negotiations do not continue to progress, and the bargaining associations consider other options, including strike votes, to support the work of the bargaining committees.

News this week of a strike vote by BCGEU members has heightened awareness about negotiations. The strike mandate returned by BCGEU members is in the union’s master contract governing wages and working conditions in the direct government service contract, which includes ministry staff and liquor distribution board workers. No CUPE members are covered by this contract.

We will continue to update you as bargaining continues.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the CBA which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU.  Other Unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

HSPBA UPDATE: Negotiations continue at both tables where CUPE members are represented

 

May 22, 2012

Negotiations continue at the Health Science Professionals and Community Health bargaining tables, but there is limited progress to report.

Both bargaining tables in the health sector report slow negotiations. Bargaining at the Health Sciences Professionals table continues this week and the Community Health table resumes talks next week.

CUPE has ensured that all essential service levels are in place in the event that negotiations do not continue to progress, and the bargaining associations consider other options, including strike votes, to support the work of the bargaining committees.

News this week of a strike vote by BCGEU members has heightened awareness about negotiations. The strike mandate returned by BCGEU members is in the union’s master contract governing wages and working conditions in the direct government service contract, which includes ministry staff and liquor distribution board workers. No CUPE members are covered by this contract.

We will continue to update you as bargaining continues.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the HSPBA which has over 17,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the HSA.  Other Unions at the table are BCGEU, PEA and HEU.

CBA UPDATE: Community Health table talks continue

May 3, 2012

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) met last week in Vancouver for four days to exchange and discuss proposals with the Health Employers’ Association of British Columbia (HEABC).

The two parties discussed a wide range of issues and exchanged amendments to previously tabled proposals. We’ve now tabled and discussed all of the non-monetary issues. Last week, we were able to narrow the differences or gain agreement on many issues our members have identified as important. 

The primary topics now being discussed are scheduling, grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety, bullying and allowances. We’ll be discussing benefits and compensation after we’ve dealt with the non-monetary items.

The committee expects to move to monetary issues in the coming weeks.

“We’re hoping the HEABC comes to the table with a fair and reasonable wage offer,” said CUPE bargaining committee member, Pat Taylor.

Community health bargaining will continue in a few weeks in Vancouver. 

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the Community Bargaining Association, which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU. Other unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

Important message about the public service (direct government bargaining unit) strike vote

Members have been asking whether they’re participating in the current strike vote being held by the BCGEU. You are not. The BCGEU is a large union with many sectors that negotiate separately and hold separate strike votes. Right now, BCGEU members who are direct government of B.C. employees are participating in the strike vote. You – members of the Community Health Bargaining Association – work under the terms of the Health Services & Support Community Subsector Collective Agreement. You remain at the bargaining table.

HSPBA UPDATE: HEABC still not ready to defend refusal to implement contract; arbitration delayed

 

May 3, 2012

After months of preparation, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) appeared before arbitrator John Hall last Monday to argue an application for interim relief in a policy grievance that alleges HEABC is in contravention of the 2010-2012 HSPBA collective agreement for failing or refusing to work towards the objectives agreed to in bargaining.

But the arbitrator adjourned the hearing because HEABC claimed, for the second time, it was not ready to defend allegations it is violating the terms of the 2010-2012 collective agreement, as a result of current collective bargaining.

Justin Schmid, CUPE National Representative and a member of the Bargaining Committee, said the delay is uncalled for and shows the employers’ disregard for the processes negotiated in the previous contract.

 

A policy grievance, which included a claim for interim relief, was filed by the unions in November. Employers were notified three weeks ago that the unions would be seeking interim relief on April 23. They claim that they were not given enough time to prepare.

“The HSPBA is as busy with contract negotiations as HEABC is. But we’re not about to abandon our responsibility to hold HEABC accountable to terms and conditions negotiated in the last agreement, even as we work to make progress on a new collective agreement for 2012 and beyond,” Schmid said.

HSPBA charges that the employer is refusing to adhere to the terms and conditions negotiated in the 2010-2012 agreement by failing or refusing to work towards fulfillment of the objectives outlined for the Joint Classifications Committee, negotiated in that agreement.

The union association believes that health authorities are prohibited from implementing any of the interim classification modifications because the right to do so was conditional upon the Joint Classifications Committee fulfilling its objectives.

 

While the union bargaining association worked diligently on finding creative and innovative ways to approach the classification system, HEABC did not reciprocate. Instead, health authorities moved straight to implementation of the interim modifications, which triggered loss of access to supervision, and a downgrade of grid level for certain members – affecting their pay level.

“The union’s agreement to modify grid levels was contingent on a real and workable commitment to overhauling the classification system. HEABC refused to be productive in that area. That’s unacceptable, and it is completely contrary to the agreement,” Schmid said.

The grievance hearing was rescheduled to be heard at the end of June.

Bargaining for a new collective agreement resumes this week.

CBA UPDATE: Unions and employer return to community health table and resume talks

 

April 23, 2012

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) resumed bargaining last week in Vancouver exchanging and discussing proposals for four days with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC).

The two parties discussed several issues and exchanged proposals on previously tabled proposals and have now canvassed most of the non-monetary issues. This week both parties will continue to work to narrow the differences or gain agreement on many issues members have identified as important.

“During bargaining we try to resolve the non-monetary issues first,” said Pat Taylor, CUPE bargaining committee member.  “After we have dealt with the non-monetary issues, we will move on to discuss issues like benefits and wages that have a monetary component.”

“We have made some progress and the employer is showing a willingness to discuss the issues we have put on the table,” said Jill Stromnes, also a CUPE bargaining committee member.

Community health will continue bargaining this week in Vancouver with additional dates set for the following week.

CUPE represents approximately 500 members in the CBA which has over 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU.  Other Unions at the table are UFCW, HEU, HSA, and USWA.

HSPBA UPDATE: Health science professionals contract discussions continue

April 12, 2012 

Bargaining at the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association table continues to make slow but steady progress, HSPBA Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers reported today.

Like most public sector union contracts in the province, the agreement expired March 31, 2012.

“At the outset of bargaining, we said we were committed to the process, but that if we didn’t see signs from employers that there was an appetite for meaningful discussion about contract issues important to health science professionals, we would not have a lot of patience for the process,” Meyers said.

“I am optimistic that the work being done at the bargaining table is productive, albeit slow, and we are working on a number of long-standing issues that it is in members’ interest to resolve,” she said.

Promising discussions are continuing on the Enhanced Disability Management Program and on an improved and faster arbitration process designed to speed up resolution of disputes.

“The pace is slow, but we continue to seek fair and reasonable recognition of the value of health science professionals in the modern health care team,” said CUPE bargaining committee member Chris Losito.

Bargaining is set to resume later this month.