Imposed contract means health care chaos for years, HSA president says

HSA President Cindy Stewart said the legislation passed this afternoon imposing a contract on health science professionals will throw the health care system in British Columbia into chaos.

"The government had a number of options, and it was our understanding as late as Tuesday morning that the Minister of Labour was prepared to continue negotiations," Stewart said.

"But Premier Gordon Campbell obviously had a different idea."

Campbell announced in a late afternoon news conference August 7 that the government would legislate the employer's last offer as the health science professionals contract - in spite of the employer's demonstrated and continued refusal to bargain in good faith as directed the government's earlier legislation passed June 20.

Stewart said while the government allowed for a third party to arbitrate a solution for doctors demanding wage increases, he refused to allow a similar process for health science professionals.

"Premier Gordon Campbell is afraid of the truth - that the shortages in the health science professions can't be ignored," Stewart charged.

"We warned the government this offer would damage the health care team and have a devastating effect on morale in the health care system.

"They ignored those warnings. They've made a mistake and it's a mistake HSA members will be reminding them of every day," Stewart said.

HSA activists from across the province will meet in Richmond Tuesday to discuss the options open to the union. Membership meetings have also been scheduled across the province for members to have an opportunity to be informed of the terms of the imposed contract.

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