HSA tables wage demands, seeks strike mandate

The Health Sciences Association (HSA) tabled a wage proposal with the Health Employers Association of BC this week calling for a 30 per cent wage increase over two years for the provinces 14,000 health sciences professionals.

The union bargaining committee is recommending health science professionals back the demands at the bargaining table with a strong strike vote to be conducted by April 20.

Chief union negotiator Rick Lampshire said talks are scheduled to resume April 10, but said the union bargaining association expects the employer to return to the table with a substantial monetary response to the wage demands tabled this week.

"We are facing serious shortages in the health sciences professions. Without a commitment to keeping highly skilled professionals here in BC, the health care system will go deeper into crisis," HSA Chief Negotiator Rick Lampshire said.

Professional organizations representing health sciences professionals are reporting serious shortages in a number of disciplines. For example:

In the area of respiratory therapy, a national study shows that by 2004, more than 50 per cent of graduates from respiratory therapy programs will be required just to replace retiring therapists.
A July 2000 study found that for every physiotherapist looking for work, there are nine positions available.
And the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists reported that in 2000, 60 per cent of hospitals reported vacancies in their pharmacy departments, while the UBC School of Pharmacy reports that last year a full 1/3 of its graduates left BC to take jobs in the United States.
"Shortages in health science professions such as these result in waiting lists, cancelled surgeries and slower recovery for patients. The solution is to make these jobs attractive so we can retain our highly educated health care professionals," Lampshire said.

He pointed to pharmacists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, radiation therapists, dietitians and other health science professionals outside BC as setting the national trend for wages in these disciplines.

"Without significant increases in this round of bargaining, BC will continue to lose these professionals to jurisdictions like Alberta and Ontario, where their colleagues will be making up to 15 per cent more on an annual basis," Lampshire said.

Bargaining with the Health Employers Association of BC started in January, and dates have been set aside to continue bargaining in April. The Paramedical Bargaining Association represents 14,000 health science professionals in the Health Sciences Association, BC Government and Services Employees Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Professional Employees Association, and the Hospital Employees Union.

Bargaining demands will be on the minds of about 300 delegates from around the province in Vancouver for the Health Sciences Association 30th annual convention April 6 and 7 in Vancouver at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside.

For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or 328.2886