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“We are not going to sit by and allow any health authority to try to renege on the terms of the negotiated collective agreement." - Jeanne Meyers, HSABC Legal and Labour Relations execuitve director.
Vancouver (11 April 2013) – In a recent letter from human resources managers at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA), employees have been told they will be moving to a five-day 7.5 hour work week and that nine-day fortnights and earned days off (EDOs) will be eradicated.
The letter completely misrepresents the negotiated agreement reached on the shift to a 37.5 hour work week from the current 36 hour work week worked by health science professionals, says Jeanne Meyers, executive Director of Legal and Labour Relations for the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE).
“We are not going to sit by and allow any health authority to try to renege on the terms of the negotiated collective agreement,” Meyers said.
“The agreement to change to an extended work week was achieved through months of negotiations at the bargaining table. The unilateral pronouncement about the change in hours is completely contrary to the agreement, and HSABC/NUPGE and the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) will take immediate action to stop any health authority from disregarding the agreement,” she said.
To read the details about the transition to the 37.5 hour work week from the Memorandum of Understanding, click here.
In addition, the agreement reached with HEABC – the health authorities’ bargaining agent – is that these schedules are to be reviewed and established on a department by department basis.
“If VCHA persists with its plan to unilaterally implement standardized shift schedules, the union will grieve and seek interim relief,” Meyers said.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE