Preliminary deal reached for more than 60,000 health workers B.C.
A “provisional” deal was reached late Thursday night between nine unions representing 60,000 health workers and the provincial government.
About 90 percent of those employees are represented by the Hospital Employees’ Union.
HEU secretary business manager Meena Brisard said the new three-year deal provides for inflation-prone wage increases, along with a number of measures to address staff shortages and burnout.
“Protecting our members’ revenues from rising costs has been a top priority for our negotiating committee,” Brisard said in a press release. “This arrangement provides for inflation-sensitive pay increases and other compensation improvements that will help retain skilled, experienced healthcare workers and attract new employees for careers in our hospitals and care homes.
“We have secured major new investments in training and education and a commitment to hire thousands of new employees. This will provide our members with career mobility, reduced workload and safer work, which is essential to address the workforce crisis we face today.”
Full details of the deal will be provided to union members ahead of ratification votes, which are yet to be scheduled.
This deal comes after 65 days of negotiations that began last February.
