The push for parity continues

Between Oct. 19 and 21, the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) committee resumed negotiations with your employer, the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). We did make progress and are close to resolving outstanding non-monetary matters, and we’re currently working to reach an agreement on changes to hours of work in both Article 14 and 15.

However, the HEABC’s (on behalf of the Provincial government) monetary offer does not go far enough – and the committee has continued to emphasize this. Although the offer includes monies to match the top rate of CBA classifications to the comparable FBA rate, it does not address the significant gap in shift premium rates, vacation entitlement, or the three years of full-time hours it takes to reach the top step.

More concerning is that there must be additional money provided to fund the Joint Community Benefits Trust at the same contribution rates as the FBA. The bargaining committee has made it very clear – without additional funding, not only will we not be able to match benefits, we’ll remain in a position where the benefits of workers in the CBA could be reduced. We are committed to stopping this from happening and that is why we are fighting for additional money from the province to avoid this impact on our members in the long term.

We are going to make one more attempt to resolve these matters in the coming weeks at the bargaining table. If we are unsuccessful, we will have no other choice but to engage members on next steps up to and including the potential of taking a strike vote.

Please share this update with any coworkers, and if there are members in your workplace who are not receiving updates, please encourage them to send their contact information to reception@ufcw1518.com, with their full name, employer name, work location, and member ID.