Health science professionals talks adjourn

"The Health Employers Association has refused to return to the bargaining table prepared to negotiate," Rick Lampshire, Chief Negotiator for the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association, charged today.

Lampshire said the five unions representing about 14,000 health science professionals heard from special mediator Stephen Kelleher that the HEABC has no change to the offer that resulted in bargaining breaking down May 9th.

"The employer and the government are saying there is no money. There is money for nurses. There is money for deputy ministers. There is even money for the President of the Liberal Party of BC." Lampshire said.

"We don't accept there is no money for health science professionals.

"We take a look around at what is happening in this province, and we are seeing that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. There is no other explanation for the outrageous discrepancy between the offer at the nurses' table and the offer at our table," Lampshire said.

"To date we have been responsible in our job action, and we have been professional about our negotiations. What we have got in return is a strong message that professional behaviour is not respected."

"The government ordered us back to the table. We complied with the legislation. The employer didn't even make the pretense of bargaining. They even refused to meet at a neutral location - which is standard practice in labour management negotiations," Lampshire said.

The talks have adjourned. Lampshire said the unions in the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association will be taking some time to discuss options available to them to continue to pursue a collective agreement that values the contribution of health science professionals.

Over the next week to 10 days HSA will be canvassing members to consider the options available to continue to press for a collective agreement.

The Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association represents 14,000 health science professionals in the Health Sciences Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, BC Government and Services Employees' Union, Professional Employees' Association, and the Hospital Employees' Union.

For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or 328-2886