HSPBA Bargaining Update: Health science professionals return to negotiations with government commitment

Contract negotiations on behalf of over 25,000 health science professionals working in BC will resume this week in response to a significant new commitment from government, one that respects key priorities identified by members.
 
Members voted 90% in favour of job action in December, and negotiations have been suspended since January 16, when HSA and constituent unions belonging to the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association expressed concern about the lack of progress on member priorities. Called upon to advocate and increase awareness of the situation on the frontlines of health care, health science professionals in communities around BC wrote hundreds of letters to their local MLAs. 
 
Last week, the government came forward with a new commitment to address the union’s key priorities for negotiations, including the need to address professional shortages to improve delivery of critical services.
 
Following discussions with HSA leadership, the Board of Directors voted to return to the bargaining table and negotiations are expected to resume this week.
 
“Thanks to members standing together, the government has provided a new path forward in these negotiations,” said HSA President Sarah Kooner. “There is a lot of hard work yet to be done, but we believe this path can lead to agreement that improves working conditions for members, and for the public who depend on their care.”
 
HSA is the lead union in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, which also includes over 5,000 members represented by BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Professional Employees Association (PEA), and Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU).
 
Updates will be provided as negotiations unfold.