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Join HSABC in improving workers' legislation

The Day of Action is part of an intensive 8-day lobbying campaign to restore fairness to B.C.'s labour laws.

Vancouver (16 April 2019) — After 2 decades of deteriorating rights under the former B.C. government, the NDP is about to revise the province's labour laws.

The Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) is encouraging its members to show the government that all workers in BC deserve fair working conditions, with the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Time to re-establish workers' rights

To get that message out, the HSABC/NUPGE is working with the B.C. Federation of Labour to call for changes to the Employment Standards Act to ensure that all workers are covered by the legislation, with no exceptions. Farm workers, high-tech workers, and unionized workers should be fully protected by the ESA.

The Employment Standards Act should include paid protected leave for all workers experiencing intimate, personal and relationship (formerly domestic) violence and survivors of sexual assault. Job-protected leave is crucial in order for workers to get the support they need. Six other provinces provide paid leave, and B.C. has no excuse to lag behind.

Being able to choose a union is a Charter-protected right. It's also proven to combat inequality and make working conditions better for all of us. The HSABC/NUPGE is calling on MLAs to restore the one-step certification process for workers seeking to join a union.

Successorship rights needed

Another major issue facing B.C. workers is contract flipping. When one contractor is replaced by another, workers may be forced to reapply for the same jobs, and could lose their benefits and seniority. The HSABC/NUPGE is calling on the government to ensure workers have successorship rights when contract services are re-tendered.

In collaboration with the B.C. Federation of Labour, HSABC/NUPGE has committed to coordinating a member Day of Action that is being held on Wednesday, April 17. Workers will be calling on Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party and members of the B.C. Green Caucus to restore fairness to B.C.’s labour laws.

For the government to make important changes to the ESA and the Labour Relations Code, the support of Green Party MLAs is needed. 

Help make change

Will you pledge to call or email B.C. Green MLAs on Wednesday, April 17? 

Click here to sign up for this action. HSABC/NUPGE will provide a script and an email template to use, and the action will just take a few minutes.

The Day of Action is part of an intensive 8-day lobbying campaign to restore fairness to B.C.'s labour laws.

More information:

workersdeservebetter.ca