News & Updates

North Island community workers striking in Campbell River and Courtenay on Monday
December 7, 2012
For immediate release: December 7, 2012 Caring professionals from not-for-profit agencies that support vulnerable families on the North Island will be on strike Monday, December 10.
Community workers want to send a clear message to the B.C. government: stop putting vulnerable families last!
Since 2004, the B.C. Liberal government has cut $300 million in funding for programs that support vulnerable families, the developmentally disabled, at-risk youth, and children and infants in community-based programs across the province.
Hospital workers start job action
December 7, 2012
castanet.net
BC health science professionals to escalate job actions to win new contract; BC health workers plan more job action
December 7, 2012
Canadian Press
VANCOUVER - Health science professionals in British Columbia began rotating job actions on Thursday to put pressure on the government to deliver a new collective agreement.
The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association says the job action began with hospital pharmacists reducing their services to essential services only.
Starting Friday, the association says workers who deliver diagnostic imaging services will also cut back to essential services.
B.C. health science professionals begin rotating job action
December 7, 2012
The Province
Health science professionals in B.C. began rotating job actions on Thursday to put pressure on the government to deliver a new collective agreement.
The job action began with hospital pharmacists reducing their services to essential services only, said the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association.
Starting Friday, workers who deliver diagnostic imaging services will also cut back to essential services, the association said.
B.C. healthcare professionals' job action disrupts medical services
December 7, 2012
Vancouver Sun
The second stage of strike action by members of the Health Sciences Association hits B.C. hospitals today.
Workers who deliver diagnostic imaging services like X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds will scale back to essential services as part of an effort to pressure the government to come up with a better contract offer.
The union's job action began yesterday with hospital pharmacists offering only essential services, and it continues Sunday when hospital lab services will also be reduced to essential services.
Health staff start job action
December 7, 2012
Prince George Citizen
Some elective surgeries are expected to be postponed Friday as members of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. complete a two-day job action.
For 24 hours beginning at midnight Friday morning, staff who operate diagnostic imaging equipment such as MRIs will reduce their staffing levels to minimum essential levels across the province.
There will be enough staff on hand to cover emergency situations, but not handle a full patient load.
Wages in B.C. falling behind other provinces, union says
December 7, 2012
Times Colonist (Victoria)
Hospital professional staff undertaking rotating strikes across B.C. are paid less than counterparts in other provinces, union figures show.
Some professional hospital employees could earn as much as $10 more an hour in Alberta, said dietitian Bill Hadden, co-chief union steward at Victoria General Hospital for the Health Sciences Association of B.C.
"We're losing a lot of our younger members," he said.
Surgery, lab tests to be delayed by strike
December 6, 2012
The Daily Bulletin (Kimberley)
Hospital pharmacists and medical imaging technicians plan to go ahead with brief strikes Thursday and Friday as a mediator attempts to reach a settlement with 16,000 health science employees at hospitals and clinics across B.C.
Comox hospital cancels scans due to job action by technicians
December 6, 2012
Comox Valley Record
St. Joseph's General Hospital has cancelled about 70 diagnostic imaging scans on Dec. 7 due to medical imaging technicians' job action.
Community Health Services and Support: New bargaining dates scheduled
December 6, 2012
Community Health bargaining is scheduled to resume January 7, 2013.
When bargaining resumes in the new year, the bargaining committee is looking for the employer to bring a solid offer to the table that meets the needs of the Community Bargaining Association
The CBA represents more than 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU. Other unions at the table are HSA, UFCW, HEU, CUPE, USWA, and CLAC.