VANCOUVER – CUPE’s Health Care Presidents Council is recommending that its members in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) reject the tentative agreement reached with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).
A major concern is the proposal to move out of the current Health Benefit Trust to a new benefit trust. This change will transfer the entire inflation risk from the employer to individual members. For example, the rate of inflation for dental benefits is 3-4 percent per year and the rate of inflation for extended health benefits is in the range of 9-11 percent per year. If we accept this tentative agreement we will be forced to significantly increase funding by members for current benefits or to implement significant cuts to the benefits members are eligible to receive.
“No matter how you look at this deal, it’s just not good enough,” said CUPE BC President Mark Hancock. “Whether it’s substandard wage increases that don’t even keep pace with inflation, or changes to benefits that put our members at risk, it’s clear that this agreement is neither fair nor reasonable for our hardworking members. I urge all members to vote no.”
Additional details on the tentative agreement will be posted at www.cupe.bc.ca on Monday. In the meantime, members should contact their local executive with any questions.
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.
