BURST
A tentative deal has been reached between over 67,000 unionized health workers and provincial agencies that improves work and caring conditions in B.C.’s hospitals and long-term care facilities, the bargaining group announced on Tuesday.
The Facilities Bargaining Association, which representing nine health worker unions, said the deal was reached late Monday night with the Health Employers Association of B.C., which represents publicly funded health care institutions. Negotiations had been going on since February.
“This tentative agreement secures wage improvements to better attract, retain and support front-line health care workers who deliver the care British Columbians want and need,” said Lynn Bueckert, lead negotiator for the bargaining association and the Hospital Employees’ Union secretary and business manager.
“The agreement also features key enhancements to support front-line staff, lower injury rates and make workplaces more inclusive.”
Members, 95 per cent of whom are represented by the HEU, would get a wage hike of three per cent in each year of a four-year term, with targeted increases for some shift premiums, leaves and allowances. That’s the same wage increase the province recently agreed to in a new contract with the B.C. General Employee’s Union, which represents the largest group working for the province’s core ministries.
Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the employers’ association, said the deal offers “fair wage increases and provisions to strengthen and expand occupational health and safety measures, provide new supports for Indigenous workers, enhance workplace diversity, and improve provisions for work-life balance.”
The 67,500 workers include care aides, health records staff, laboratory and other diagnostic specialists, porters, sterile supply technicians, trades and maintenance workers, activity aides and rehab assistants, IT specialists, pharmacy technicians, admitting and booking clerks, administrative staff, cleaning and dietary staff.
The agreement builds on a facilities framework among the bargaining group, health employers and government that was announced in August. It committed to added compensation beyond the provincial public-sector bargaining mandate to right historic wrongs in B.C.’s public health system.
“The government has renewed its commitment to reverse deep wage cuts that harmed the lives of tens of thousands of B.C. health care workers and their families over 20 years ago,” said Bueckert. It restores wages “that were unjustifiably rolled back in 2004 by the B.C. Liberals — so that pay for hospital and long-term care workers keeps up with employees doing similar jobs across B.C.’s public sector.”
A wage restoration fund of $60.5 million will be distributed to affected members over four years between 2025 and 2029. The employers and government also committed to extending the wage measures through the next two collective agreements.
“The tentative agreement also charts a clear path for the government to deliver on its longtime commitment to improve wages and benefits for health care workers who provide care for seniors in long-term care and assisted living,” said Bueckert.
Members will get a detailed report on the wage hikes and all other provisions of the agreement later this month before a ratification vote is held online from Dec. 15 to 19.