Community Health Subsector Contract Ratified

The Community Health Subsector Collective Agreement with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) has been ratified by a vote of 76 per cent acceptance province wide. The vote was by members of all eight unions of the Union Bargaining Association, including UFCW 1518 members.   

About 14,000 unionized employees who provide home support care to seniors and other health-related services will be covered by this new two-year agreement.

The contract highlights include improved vision care and the establishment of joint working groups who will form committees that work towards improving sick leave benefits and scheduling practices. In addition, members will receive a new "Blue Net" card for purchasing their prescriptions.

UFCW 1518 along with the Association of Unions will soon start on the substantial committee work that is part of the Collective Agreement.

The new language in the contract will not be implemented until April 1, 2010 or as otherwise specified in the ratification document. 

“This was a very difficult environment in which to negotiate this Collective Agreement," says Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518. "We know our Health Care members deserve more, but at the end of the day, the Bargaining Association was convinced that with this BC Liberal government in power, this was the most that could be achieved."

"Now that the agreement is ratified," he said, "we will move on to the committee work and make sure this contract works as it should for the members.”