BURNABY—Less than two days after serving strike notice, the 560 members of CUPE 1816 have reached a tentative, four-year agreement with health benefits coverage provider Pacific Blue Cross (PBC).
The agreement in principle, reached with the assistance of a mediator, includes wage increases and confirms previously agreed-upon issues.
“We’re very happy to have been able to reach this agreement with the employer, and so quickly, without resorting to job action,” said CUPE 1816 president Beth Miller.
A ratification vote will be scheduled shortly, with both parties recommending acceptance of the four-year agreement.
PBC is a not-for-profit service organization. With its subsidiary, British Columbia Life & Casualty Company (BC Life), it provides health, dental, life and disability coverage for approximately two million members who work for education, municipal, health, governmental, credit union and other large and small employers. It also covers individual members throughout British Columbia.
CUPE 1816 members at PBC work in a broad range of classifications, from underwriters to benefit examiners, disability claim representatives, benefits administrators and call centre employees.