Tentative five-year health agreement reached

NEWS — The Facilities Bargaining Association and the Health Employers’ Association of B.C. have reached a tentative five-year agreement under the new Economic Stability Mandate, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced today.

The Facilities Bargaining Association is comprised of members of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU), the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

The tentative five-year agreement covers about 43,600 unionized employees working in diverse areas of the health sector, including care aides, paramedics, dispatchers, ambulance drivers, cleaners and lab assistants, as well as nursing unit assistants and administrative/support staff.

The government’s Economic Stability Mandate provides public-sector employers with the ability to negotiate longer-term agreements within a fixed fiscal envelope and offers employees an opportunity to participate in the Province’s economic growth. Settlements are expected to be unique between sectors and reflect government’s priorities of having labour stability, affordable service delivery and a balanced budget.

Details of the agreement will be available once the ratification process is complete.

“This tentative agreement is significant as there are now more than 100,000 employees covered by tentative and ratified agreements negotiated under the Economic Stability Mandate,” said de Jong.

Health Minister Terry Lake said “this agreement will ensure British Columbians who need medical care receive it in a timely and effective manner in a safe environment.”