VANCOUVER–The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association continues to meet with the Health Employers Association of BC to negotiate a new collective agreement.
Two weeks ago, the union association served notice to the employer that a concessionary package is completely unacceptable to health science professionals.
Discussions have continued and the unions are optimistic that HEABC and the government have received the message that the contribution of health science professionals delivering modern health care in the public health care system must not be discounted.
Talks have been slow, but the bargaining association is satisfied that there is forward momentum in negotiations.
Bargaining continues this week.
The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association represents 17,000 health science professionals working in B.C. hospitals and communities. They are members of Health Sciences Association, BC Government and Service Employees’ Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and Professional Employees’ Association.
CUPE represents over 500 members in this bargaining association, represented by CUPE Locals 15, 1978 and 4816. The current HSPBA collective agreement expired March 31, 2010. CUPE’s representatives on the bargaining committee are Frank De Waard, (Team Leader with Burnaby Home Health), Caroline Mewis (Physiotherapist with Richmond Health) and Justin Schmid, CUPE National Representative.
