May 27 2004
The Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) has reached a Framework Agreement with the Nurses Bargaining Association (NBA) under which both parties will approach negotiations to renew a Collective Agreement and discuss health policy issues related to the nursing workforce.
The Framework Agreement establishes a net zero mandate with respect to total compensation for nurses. Both parties have agreed to a rollover of the existing Collective Agreement. They have also agreed to form discussion groups in which to discuss specific health policy issues such as increasing the number of regular full-time positions for nurses, shift scheduling, and hours of work. Recommendations resulting from these discussion groups, which have an impact on the Collective Agreement, will then be referred to the respective bargaining committees.
“In this agreement, HEABC and the NBA have committed to pursuing collaborative discussions of health policy issues, put forward by both parties, within the framework of a net zero mandate. Within this framework, the NBA has agreed to 0-0 increases in wages and benefits over the next two years, and HEABC will not pursue rollbacks in wages, benefits and time off,” said Louise Simard, President and CEO of HEABC.
The bargaining process will continue after these discussions are completed and will refocus on a reduced number of agenda items including the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare (OHSAH). The discussion and bargaining process will take place through to the end of July.
Agreements reached by these parties will either be part of a separate letter of understanding or will be recommended as amendments to the rolled-over Collective Agreement. Amendments to the rolled-over Collective Agreement will be presented to nurses and employers for ratification. The expected result of this process is that both parties will have significantly narrowed and refocused their respective objectives for this round of negotiations, facilitating each party’s ability to make acceptable recommendations to their respective memberships.
“I believe this Framework Agreement will allow for very productive discussions on some issues that are important to employers, nurses and the public,” added Simard.
The Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) is the non-governmental member organization that acts as the accredited bargaining agent for approximately 330 employer organizations providing publicly-funded health care services to the people of BC.
The current provincial agreement for nurses expired March 31, 2004 and covers approximately 28,400 nurses.
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