return to health authority

PHOTO Joshua Berson

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD | About 150 HEU members at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley and Campbell River sites, who have been working under a private contractor since 2017, have been brought back under the facilities subsector agreement.

Move raises hopes for contracted workers

SOME HOUSEKEEPERS and waste management workers on northern Vancouver Island celebrated an important decision, in May, to bring their services back under the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). Workers in these classifications will be covered by the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) contract, as of October 1.

This was welcome news for about 150 HEU members at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley and Campbell River sites, who have been working under a private contractor, Compass Canada/Crothall, since 2017.

“Everyone is really excited about this,” says HEU member Madison Polson, who works as a housekeeper at Comox Valley. “We’re going to have better benefits, and the communication and teamwork will be enhanced.”

Until 2017, these services were delivered by VIHA. But when the old Campbell River Hospital closed, and St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Comox converted to long-term care only, housekeeping and waste management services at the new hospitals were transferred to a private contractor. Workers immediately saw a wage reduction and a loss of other FBA benefits.

“Housekeeping staff are critical and valued members of the health care team in Comox and Campbell River,” says Jennifer Whiteside, HEU secretary-business manager. “It’s appropriate that their work is managed and directed by the health authority, and that these workers are subject to the same collective provisions as those they work beside every day.”

Bringing these workers into the FBA will improve their current wages, sick leave provisions and benefits, and provide access to a pension plan and the FBA Education Fund.

Cafes at the two hospitals, previously operated privately, were also brought under the management of VIHA.

HEU members in housekeeping and other contracted-out services across the province hope this move by VIHA signals a broader shift to bringing privatized health care services back under the management of the health authorities.

The privatization of housekeeping, laundry, food services, waste management, protection services – and many other health care jobs – began in 2002 under the BC Liberals’ controversial Bill 29.

Contracting out health services reduced wages, benefits and protections for workers. But they also created a fragmented system within hospitals, and reduced transparency and accountability.

HEU has been working with VIHA to ensure a seamless transition for employees as their jobs are brought under the FBA agreement.

“We represent thousands of workers in contracted support services across B.C., and every one of those workers is critical to the functioning of our health care team,” says Whiteside. THI VU

Indigenous Peoples Day, and respecting the people for their resiliency and strength.”

Traditional entertainment was livestreamed by the Daniel Wells Family of Lillooet, and award-winning singer/songwriter Leela Gilday of the Northwest Territories. Members of the IPSC also brought video greetings and land acknowledgements from across the province.

Diversity, equity and inclusion project more important than ever

From anti-Asian attacks during the pandemic, to a global reckoning on anti-Black violence following the killing of George Floyd, to an investigation into racism against Indigenous People in our health care system, the last few months have reinforced the need to address systemic racism and discrimination in our institutions.

Health care workers and unions must play a part in this work, and HEU convention delegates have supported a number of measures to identify and address systemic bias in the union including a strategy to be more inclusive of marginalized members and increase representation and participation of equity-seeking groups.

HEU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group launched a series of consultations with HEU members at the beginning of March to carry out this work, but suspended those meetings as the union focused on supporting members during the pandemic.

But recent developments have shown us that continuing our work to build an inclusive and equitable union is more important than ever. In the coming months, the union will develop new approaches to ensure that the work of the DEI Committee continues despite the COVID-19 crisis. HEU members met with the union's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group in Victoria on March 10, one of numerous meetings around the province.