Health science professionals walk out to protest heavy-handed legislation

Health science professionals walked off the job province-wide today and will provide essential services only to protest the government's plan to end job action in health care.

"This proposed legislation is heavy-handed and curtails collective bargaining rights," HSA President Cindy Stewart said today outside Burnaby Hospital, where she joined health science professionals at the union's strike headquarters.

"Our members are furious. The government is taking the first step towards imposing a settlement that doesn't value the work they do in the health care system," she said.

Stewart said that in meetings with the two new Ministers of Health and the Minister of Labour, the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association representing 14,000 health science professionals has made it clear that a negotiated agreement is a priority for the unions.

"But there hasn't been any serious bargaining at our table. The last offer on the table was a six per cent increase for health science professionals. This is in stark contrast to the wages being offered to other health care professionals - including the 23 per cent at the nurses' table.

"Health science professionals are essential to the health care system. They have specialized skills, most have a minimum of four years post-secondary education, and they are in demand in other jurisdictions. Without a wage that recognizes the critical role they play in the system, the crisis we're in today will look like a picnic compared to months, and a few years, down the road."

"Our members are watching this round of negotiations carefully. Without a competitive wage, we will lose the professionals that are already in such short supply," Stewart warned.

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