Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
British Columbias Hospital Employees Union (which is affiliated with CUPE) is seeking a strike mandate from its 42,000 members working in hospitals and long-term care facilities after breaking off talks on April 21.
The multi-union bargaining association withdrew from talks after the Health Employers Association of B.C. tabled a “settlement framework” which failed to address the unions key issues and which targeted existing contract provisions.
“The employers proposals target workers benefits and fail to meet important goals like protecting Medicare from privatization through stronger contracting-out language and providing better care and lower injury rates through reduced workloads,” said HEU secretary-business manager and bargaining association spokesperson Chris Allnutt.
HEU began taking a strike vote on May 4 and will complete it on May 15, with ballots being counted on that day. The other unions in the bargaining association are also making strike plans. In all. 45,000 health care workers are covered by the negotiations.