Canada Journal – News of the World Articles and videos to bring you the biggest Canadian news stories from across the country every day
B.C. health care workers have delivered an overwhelming strike mandate to back their negotiating team’s bid to secure a fair and respectful collective agreement with health employers.
Members of the 11 unions that form the Facilities Bargaining Association voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action after a month of balloting wrapped up Wednesday.
FBA spokesperson Bonnie Pearson says they’re also seeking changes to the ambulance service that would
improve and enhance paramedics’ abilities to provide patient care.
“We believe that a fair and reasonable agreement is within reach if health employers abandon their
demands for contract rollbacks,” said Pearson in a written statement.
She says she hopes the unions’ strong strike mandate will help focus the employer on a negotiated settlement.
Talks with the Health Employers Association began in January and broke off in late March, just before the current collective agreement expired.
The Hospital Employees’ Union represents the vast majority of workers covered by these talks.
The remainder are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Seven other unions are represented at the bargaining table by the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers Local 5.
Agencies/Canadajournal
