Bargaining underway for HSA members working in the community health sector across British Columbia
A second week of bargaining has wrapped up between the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) and the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) in Vancouver. Talks are aimed at achieving a new collective agreement for members in community health.
The CBA represents roughly 16,000 employees working in community health around B.C. The majority are represented by the BCGEU, which is the lead union in bargaining. HSA represents almost 1000 members working in the sector. Other unions present at the table are UFCW, HEU, CUPE, USWA, CLAC and BCNU.
HSA is represented at the table by staff negotiator Jessica Derynck, and member representative Katherine Oliver, a child care assistant at Thompson Nicola Family Resource Society.
Negotiators report progress is being made, and that the union has tabled some non-monetary proposals aimed at correcting injury rates in the workplace that continue to be at least three times the provincial average. Other issues union negotiators plan to address are recruitment and retention, and precarious work schedules.
Talks are scheduled to continue.