CUPE’s British Columbia health care division is calling for a more even-handed approach to health care issues and workers in the wake of last week’s provincial election.
Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) Secretary-Business Manager Judy Darcy says health care concerns dominated the election campaign across B.C. and that the results should signal to politicians that voters want a more balanced approach to health care policies.
Gordon Campbell’s Liberals won a second term but lost their massive majority, while the New Democrats made strong gains and will be able to flex more muscle in opposition.
“There’s a lot of work to do to fix health care and front-line health care workers know what’s working and what’s not,” says Darcy. “I’m hopeful that Premier Campbell and his party will treat their renewed mandate as an opportunity to forge a more cooperative and constructive relationship with our union and to place a higher value on our members’ contributions to health care.”
HEU’s 42,000 members work in B.C. hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community delivering health care and community social services.