HSPBA strike vote opens at noon today
Your HSPBA bargaining committee has spent the past nine months working to negotiate a fair new collective agreement for health science professionals in BC.
The big issue right now for health science professionals is not simply wages; we have been offered the same 3% per year over 4 years as other unionized public sector workers in BC. However, the employer has to date refused to offer the full monetary package being provided to other unions. Specifically, while other public sector unions have been offered significant funding to tackle recruitment and retention, health science professionals have been offered much less — about $100 million less (when adjusted for our membership) in additional funding than other unions — even as workload and burnout are so severe that 1 in 3 health science professionals are thinking of quitting.
That is why your HSPBA bargaining committee and your HSA Board of Directors are now recommending that you show your support for a fair contract by voting "YES" in your strike vote.
A strong “YES” vote sends a clear message to the employer: we are united, we are serious, and we are not backing down on our priorities:
- premiums – for regular workers, for evening/night/weekend shifts, for workers in student supervision and preceptor roles, and more
- retention incentives such as an add pay system and improvements to paid time off to reward workers who stay in the public system
- continued reimbursement for professional fees
- correcting outstanding issues with the classifications system
- maintaining our extended health and welfare benefits
- professional development funding for 2026 and beyond
🗳️ Voting opens: today, Thursday, December 4 at 12 noon (Pacific time)
🗳️ Voting closes: Wednesday, December 17 at 12 noon (Pacific time)
Your voting credentials will be emailed to you by Simply Voting, an independent and respected voting platform, not HSA. If you can’t see them in your inbox, please check your spam and/or junk folders. If you need help with voting, please reach out to @email for assistance.
A strong "YES" vote will send your bargaining committee back to the bargaining table in January with a strong mandate that demonstrates to the employer that we're not backing down on our contract priorities.
A positive strike vote does not automatically mean a strike will happen. It is our strongest tool to help your bargaining committee negotiate the agreement that you deserve.