The BC government introduced a bill this week that would bring its anti-labour legislation into line with a June 2007 Supreme Court ruling that it violated charter-protected rights to freedom of association.
Bill 29, introduced in 2002, removed language from collective agreements that prevented contracting out of health care services.
As a result, more than 9,000 BC health care workers lost their jobs.
The settlement reached by the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association (representing 40,000 workers in B.C. hospitals and long-term care facilities) includes a $70 million compensation and training package for workers affected by Bill 29, $5 million to re-train workers affected by future contracting out, and expanded rights and protections.
See also:
- Legislation restores health care workers’ collective bargaining rights (heu.org)
- How Bill 29 affected one woman (Globe and Mail)