HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014

BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION

Negotiating contracts is a big part of what unions do for their members. But it's not the only thing.

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014

BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD

Q: Now that the collective agreement has been ratified, how will HSA go about moving to a joint governance model for delivering health and welfare benefits? And what does it mean in the short-term?

Agreement includes wage adjustments and pay increases

Community social service workers have voted by 85 per cent in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement that includes wage adjustments and increases of up to 11.5 percent over five years.

The new collective agreement will be in effect from April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019.

Community Living workers ratified the tentative agreement by 83 per cent. General Services ratified by 91 per cent, and Aboriginal Services ratified by 63 per cent.

Members of the multi-union Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) – including almost 800 HSA members -- have voted 78.7% in favour of accepting a new collective agreement with the Health Employers’ Association of BC (HEABC).

The five-year collective agreement expires on March 31, 2019 and covers over 15,000 union members working in community health across the province.

Under the 2014-2019 collective agreement recently ratified by health science professionals, improvements in drug coverage are now in effect.

Every member covered by the Health Science Professionals contract should be receiving a letter outlining the changes from Pacific Blue Cross in the coming days.  A sample letter is attached here.

HOW TO VOTE ON COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES CONTRACT

All HSA members covered by the Community Social Services Bargaining Association have been mailed an information package via personal email or Canada Post.  Information and voting meetings will be held over the next few weeks, and members are now being contacted with information about where and when they are being held. You can also see the full list below.

Health science professionals have voted 76 per cent in favour of accepting a new five-year contract.

The agreement was reached in advance of the expiry of the current agreement, set to run out on March 31, 2014.

The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association tentative agreement has been amended to reflect two developments that have flowed out of review and discussion of the agreement.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) has reached a tentative agreement for the 11,000 union members working in community-based social services across the province.

The five-year agreement, which would be in place to March 31, 2019, significantly closes the wage gap between workers in this sector and those with equivalent positions in the community health sector.

The Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) has reached a tentative agreement for the more than 15,000 union members working in the community health sector across the province.

It is a five-year agreement effective April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019.

"This tentative agreement provides stability for the community health sector for the next five years and takes an important first step in bringing members' wages and benefits in-line with other health care workers doing the same type of work," said HSA President Val Avery.