Province-wide walk-outs to continue next week

Health science professionals will continue to highlight their value to the provinces health care system with walk-outs next week targeting the diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation professions represented by the health science unions.

Health Sciences Association president Cindy Stewart said this weeks strike action has served to highlight the value of health science professionals in the health care system.

"After the first two weeks of our job action in the form of public rallies and regional walk-outs, this phase of job action is focussing on delivering a strong message to individual employers that the health science professionals who work in the clinical, diagnostic and rehabilitation professions are essential to their facilities," she said.

"Our members are using their strike days to send personal messages to the government and their employers about the value of their contribution to the health of British Columbians, and underlining their need to receive professional pay for professional work," Stewart said.

Today, she joined HSA members from Vancouver Hospital who delivered personal messages to the Health Employers Association of BC in Vancouver.

Members have also been sending postcards to newly sworn-in Premier Gordon Campbell calling on him to give a new mandate to the employer to allow HEABC to return to the bargaining table with a wage offer that will help to keep health science professionals working in the public health care system in BC.

Next week, the walk-outs will be as follows: Tuesday, June 12 diagnostics; Wednesday, June 13, clinical; Thursday, June 14, rehabilitation. All withdrawals will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Essential service levels will be maintained.

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, Professional Employees Association, and the Hospital Employees Union.

For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or 328-2886