Mediator asked to book out of talks; health science professionals plan job action
The unions representing 14,000 health science professionals today asked mediator Stephen Kelleher to book out of talks.
"After three months of negotiations, including several weeks with Mr. Kelleher's help, it's clear that the employer isn't interested in negotiating an agreement that will help keep highly skilled health care professionals here in BC," Health Sciences Association (HSA) President Cindy Stewart said.
Stewart said her union's members are incensed over comments made last week by Gary Moser, CEO of the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC), who said that health science professionals are not worth wage increases comparable to other health care professionals.
"We have a 90 per cent strike mandate, and our members are pressuring us to use it. We've heard from Mr. Moser what he thinks we're worth. Well, he'll soon know - and all British Columbians will soon know - what our highly educated members contribute to the health care system," Stewart said.
Bargaining committee member Dean Scovill of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union said the association has heard from the members of all the unions represented in the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association.
"Heath science professionals - most with at least four years of university education - and many with much more - are an independent and highly sought-after group. We are dedicated to our professions and to our patients - but we are prepared to take a stand to protect the health care system," Scovill said.
Chief Negotiator Rick Lampshire, representing all the unions in the bargaining association, said the HEABC has been stalling talks since they started in January.
"The HEABC negotiator clearly doesn't have a mandate to bargain. After three months, HEABC finally tabled a wage package. It's offensive. It includes temporary wage increases for some and a bare minimum for others.
"They kept major concessions on the table well after they were removed from other health care tables and have been telegraphing for weeks now that they aren't interested in getting down to real negotiations until after a deal is struck at the nurses' table," Lampshire said.
Competition from the private sector and from other parts of North America is drawing BC's health science professionals away. There are acute shortages in a number of disciplines, including pharmacy, occupational and physical therapy and respiratory therapy. The result is health science professionals, particularly in rural areas, are often on-call for extended periods, and many work overtime - often unpaid - to ensure the support patients and families need is delivered.
Stewart said the bargaining association will use creative methods to bring attention to the major issues at the bargaining table - which include wages, on-call and education.
"We are looking at the options we have for putting pressure on the employer," she said.
Under the terms of agreement between the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of BC, the unions are restricted from serving strike notice for 48 hours, and strike notice of 72 hours must be served before job action can start.
The Paramedical Bargaining Association represents 14,000 health science professionals in the Health Sciences Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, BC Government and Services Employees' Union, and the Hospital Employees' Union. They work in about 100 different health science professions, including pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, radiation therapy, laboratory technology, social work, public health inspection and facility licensing.
The collective agreement expired March 31, 2001.
For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or 328.2886