Using the power of connection

ABOUT 170 people gathered for HEU’s first in-person equity conference since 2019. Nearly half the delegates were new activists or firsttime equity conference attendees, which speaks to members’ growing interest in being involved in equity issues.

Held February 28 to March 2 at Vancouver’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, it was an opportunity for members identifying with equity-deserving groups to share experiences and elect equity standing committee members. The remaining caucus positions were filled through an Expression of Interest process in the spring.

Delegates attended skills-building workshops on topics like intersectionality; tenants’ rights and housing justice; how ableism affects everyone; building climate resiliency; storytelling through popular theatre; the duty to accommodate, and queer and trans history.

“Thank you for doing this critical work,” said financial secretary Betty Valenzuela, “for listening to each other with open minds and open hearts, and for sharing your lived experiences with open minds and open hearts. That’s how we grow as activists in equity-based work.”

HEU’s six Diversity VicePresidents – elected at the 2022 convention – participated in an equity panel discussion, moderated by leadership coach and activist Natasha Tony. These historic positions were permanently added to the Provincial Executive, the union’s governing body.

“This change was years in the making and didn’t come without a

Help for small locals

HEU locals with 500 members or less are eligible for a new financial supplement to help support activities and build member engagement.

Delegates to HEU’s 2022 convention voted to establish the Small and Mid-sized Local Supplement (SMLS) fund, providing financial support to smaller locals over and above the monthly dues rebates.

Local executives must apply by June 30 for this year’s fund. You can find more information on the HEU website under Resources for Locals (heu.org/resources-locals).

fight,” said secretary-business manager Meena Brisard. “It’s huge for HEU and for the labour movement in Canada to have these changes happen in our decision-making and leadership structure.

“As HEU’s first South Asian secretary-business manager, I didn’t get here without the work of thousands of members from equity groups, who over decades, pushed for fairness, fought discrimination, created space, educated their coworkers, learned how to be allies, and rallied for justice.”

In her president’s report, Barb Nederpel said, “When people don’t feel included, when our interests aren’t being served, and when our experiences aren’t valued, there’s a tendency to step aside, to not get involved.

“That’s when an organization can overlook the passionate, dedicated, articulate members who have so much to contribute. It can lose the next generation of leaders. But HEU is finding ways to give all members the tools and skills to take part at all levels.”

In her keynote address, CUPE Ontario secretary treasurer Yolanda McClean shared stories about the racism she’s faced as a black woman in the labour movement, and her journey to becoming a leader.

“Unions bring people togeth - er,” said McClean. “Through the power of connection, we can make a difference – whether you’re black, Indigenous, racialized women of colour, a lesbian, gay, queer, questioning person, or differently abled person… I want you to use that power of connection to join with others because you can’t do this work alone, and it shouldn’t be done alone.

“When we stand together, we are remarkable. When we act together, we are mighty. And when we support each other, we are unstoppable. That, my friends, is the power of connection and the power of HEU.”

BRENDA WHITEHALL & THI VU

Registration fees to be reimbursed

A new benefit for HEU’s regulated pharmacy technicians, certified dental assistants, and orthopaedic technologists has been negotiated in the latest facilities subsector contract.

Members required to maintain registration in a provincial health regulatory college as a condition of their employment are now eligible for a full reimbursement of those fees. This includes fees already paid between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

The deadline to submit receipts for the 2022-2023 year is July 31 through HEU’s website at heu.org/fba-registration-andlicensing-fund.

A solid bargaining start for new locals

HEU’s bargaining representatives and their teams are in regular contract negotiations for more than 120 independent collective agreements. This includes securing first collective agreements for newly certified locals as well as contract renewals.

Over the past six months, the union has ratified first contracts for HEU members at five workplaces: Oyster Harbour (CareCorp),

Astoria Retirement Residence (The Royale), and WestCana sites Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge, Northcrest Care Centre, and Kinsmen Place Lodge.

Boots On The Ground

HEU serves members in their communities across the province, with essential support provided by staff in five regional offices. In the Interior, our powerhouse team of representatives and administrative staff based in Kelowna and Nelson work with local members organizing campaigns, supporting bargaining, strengthening locals, and helping members throughout the region stand up for their rights and safety.

Union dues are critical. Without them, we couldn’t support the work of the union, or our locals, or our membership.

UNION DUES can be a hot topic of conversation for HEU members.

As financial secretary, I often get asked what HEU does for its members and how union dues are spent. I’m always happy to answer those questions because I know union dues are well-invested in supporting our membership.

All HEU locals are entitled to receive a portion of the dues that members pay. We call them dues rebates.

To receive them, locals are required to file accurate and timely Quarterly Reports to the union’s Provincial Office.

I work closely with HEU local officers to ensure their Quarterly Reports are received and that dues rebates are remitted.

What does the union do for me?

Union dues are established by the membership at convention, and they provide the financial resources for the services and programs that come out of HEU’s Provincial and Regional Offices.

This includes bargaining, member services, organizing, communications, OH&S, education, legal, and human rights.

Dues are also used to support campaigns like Care Can’t Wait; our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work; conferences, conventions, and member training, including summer school.

Absolutely everything involved in HEU’s operations relies on union dues. And, as I’ve outlined, a portion of those “dues dollars” go right back to the locals to support your costs and member activities.

So, union dues are critical. Without them, we couldn’t support the work of the union, or our locals, or our membership.

What happens to struggling locals?

In order to receive rebates, locals must have local officers to administer the funds. And expenses must comply with the criteria for allowable reimbursements.

If there are no officers to administer the funds, or if expenses are not in line with the criteria, then local secretary-treasurers will hear directly from me to see if I can provide guidance and assistance.

If the issue is not resolved, then your local rebates may be frozen. And that means locals don’t receive the money.

My goal is to help struggling locals get on track financially so they can receive their rebates, and use those monies to benefit their members.

And the union can only provide those services if we manage our union’s finances efficiently with accountability and transparency.

Locals can always contact me directly for support.

ON APRIL 6, we received fantastic news.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s application to appeal a lower court ruling, ending a 14-year legal challenge that put Canada’s public health care system at risk.

This decision marks the end of the private clinic’s lengthy battle to overturn key provisions in B.C.’s Medicare Protection Act that ensure equitable access to medically necessary services.

This case, spearheaded by clinic owner Dr. Brian Day, had worked its way through the B.C. provincial courts for years, as Day continued to appeal each decision against him.

The Supreme Court of Canada was the last stop, and it denied him a further appeal.

Case took aim at the heart of health care

The “Cambie Case” took aim at the very heart of the Canadian public health care system that was established more than 60 years ago.

The key principles of the Canada Health Act, and the provincial acts that followed, involved the simple idea that patients needing necessary care should be prioritized based on medical need and not the ability to pay.

And we are so happy to have this win because it wasn’t always clear the courts would rule in favour of public health care.

For health care workers, we know that the expansion of public health care is good for employees. It means there is secure, stable funding for our jobs. It means that everyone can access care when they need it, regardless of how much money is in their wallet.

Decision upholds the principles of Medicare

The Supreme Court decision is a victory for the Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the BC Health Coalition, and allies like us. Fighting this case has been a priority for HEU members who first decided to financially support it at our 2016 convention.

We should also take heart that the courts have confirmed the principles of Medicare – as enshrined in federal and provincial laws –are clear in intent.

The Cambie Case ruling doesn’t shut the door on for-profit health care. There will be more legal challenges.

So, we’ll continue advocating for public solutions that strengthen public health care and protect equity and access to Canada’s most valued social program.