Vaccine Mandate Lifted; Agreement Reached to Allow Return to Work

On July 26, BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that the COVID-19 public health emergency is now rescinded. As a consequence of this, the mandatory vaccine mandate is lifted.

This is significant news for workers who were terminated under the vaccine mandate. The Health Sciences Association and members of the HSPBA have reached an agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) for members returning to work (agreement link). Under this agreement, members can apply to be rehired to their former employer, or they can apply for any vacant regular or casual positions with any HEABC health care employer. Any member terminated due to non-compliance with the vaccine mandate returning to work by January 27, 2025, once returned to work, will be treated as if they have been on unpaid leave of absence. 

This includes:

a)  recognition of seniority consistent with the collective agreement as if they have been on an unpaid leave of absence to the date of rehire;

b)  recognition of service held prior to termination, including service for purposes of calculation of vacation entitlement (Article 23), severance allowance (Article 13), layoff (Article 10.06-10.07), and wage increments as applicable, as if they had been on an unpaid leave of absence to the date of rehire, in accordance with the terms of Article 22 of the collective agreement;

c)  recognition of any sick leave banks held prior to termination (Article 19) not paid out under Article 19.12, and recognition of special leave banks held prior to termination (Article 20).

Also, effective July 26, 2024, all health care workers in public health care facilities will be required to report their immunization for COVID-19 and influenza and their immune status for other critical vaccine preventable diseases. For more information read the government announcement here: 
COVID-19 public-health emergency ends, new vaccine registry will keep people safe | BC Gov News

In light of the recent lifting of the vaccine mandate and agreement with HEABC, and the recent court decision, the union is currently reviewing all of the vaccine related grievances and will be in touch with individual grievors.

In the meantime, we urge all terminated unvaccinated members, including those with outstanding grievances, to apply for re-employment under the terms of the new agreement.

If you have any questions related to this information, please contact your Labour Relations Officer.