More health sectors ratify contracts

MORE than 3,800 HEU members in community social services and community health have ratified new collective agreements that provide significant gains and bring them closer to wage parity with the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA).

The contracts provide the same general wage increases and cost of living adjustments (COLA) negotiated in the recently ratified FBA and other public sector contracts, plus additional monies for Low Wage Redress.

The three-year agreements are effective April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025. Members will receive retroactive pay back to April 1, 2022.

Community Health

The eight-union Community Bargaining Association (CBA) –led by the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) – ratified their agreement by a vote of more than 94 per cent.

HEU has about 2,300 workers in the 21,000-member CBA, and they will receive an average wage increase of 14 to 16 per cent over the three years.

Contract highlights include: the largest general wage increase since the CBA was created; significant gains toward achieving wage parity with the FBA; and a funding commitment to ensure the long-term viability of the Joint Community Benefits Trust, protecting extended health and longterm disability benefits.

Community Social Services

After more than a year of contract talks, the nine-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) also ratified a

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HEU merch online

Our new online store makes it easier to shop for HEU-branded T-shirts, jackets, travel mugs, baby onesies, and much more.

All members can purchase online using a credit card and arrange for free delivery or for pickup at the Provincial Office in Burnaby.

If you’re buying for your local, you can also choose to pay by local cheque. Select your order through the store, make your cheque payable to HEU, and mail it to our Provincial Office.

Visit heustore.org to see the latest items.

contract by a vote of 95 per cent in favour.

The CSSBA covers 19,000 workers, including about 1,500 HEU members, in three contracts: General Services, Community Living Services, and Indigenous Services.

One of the biggest wins was restoring 100 per cent paid sick leave that had been slashed to 80 per cent two decades ago by the BC Liberals.

Another victory was securing more than $22 million in Low Wage Redress monies to help reduce compensation inequalities with other health sectors.

Gains achieved specifically for Indigenous Services include wage parity for all classifications with the Main Public Service contract; retention incentive pay for all classifica-

Bursaries available

HEU bursaries ranging from $350 to $1,000 are available for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Administered by a bursary committee under the direction of the HEU Provincial Executive, bursaries can be used at any post-secondary educational institution and are awarded to students who need financial assistance and demonstrate satisfactory academic standing.

HEU members, their spouses and children may apply.

Visit heu.org/bursaries for information. Deadline is August 8 at 5:00 p.m.

tions; and a commitment to continue discussions on parity with the Main Public Service agreement for recruitment and retention, compensatory recognition for cultural competency, and further Indigenization of the collective agreement.

Health science professionals and nurses

More than 22,000 health care professionals – including about 30 HEU members – covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association ratified a new contract last December with the same general wage increases and COLA as the other public sector unions.

Highlights include overhauling the job classification system; OH&S improvements; more education, and improved inclusion within the health care workforce for communities that experience marginalization.

About two dozen HEU members are covered by the Nurses’ Bargaining Association, who ratified a deal in April.

In addition to the same public sector wage increases, the new contract includes funding to improve nursepatient ratios; Indigenous-specific anti-racism language; increases to shift premiums and allowances, and more flexible scheduling.

“It was a long, tough round of bargaining,” says HEU secretary-business manager Meena Brisard. “But these contracts make real progress on many key objectives. It’s about time these sectors receive the compensation, recognition and respect they deserve.”

BRENDA WHITEHALL

P3 workers now in-house

The long road to ending privatization continues with hundreds of contracted workers at publicprivate partnership (P3) health care sites slated to return to the public service this year.

During facilities bargaining in 2022, the provincial government confirmed its plan to bring workers at P3 sites in Fraser Health in-house.

And in January, the Provincial Health Services Authority announced that P3 workers in the