BURNABY—A tentative agreement covering more than 48,000 hospital and long-term care workers has been reached between the multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association and B.C.’s health employers.

The two-year agreement protects wages and extended health benefits, expands options for workers affected by restructuring and privatization, and provides for compensation increases for targeted job categories.

The agreement was reached against the backdrop of a government freeze on public sector compensation and just weeks before the tabling of a post-Olympic budget that is expected

VANCOUVER — CUPE 15 members joined their CUPE health sector counterparts in turning down the tentative agreement with a resounding no vote on Friday.

CUPE 15 president Paul Faoro says that members were bitterly disappointed and upset with some of the trade-offs and voted 96.5% against ratifying the agreement.

Faoro says that members were particularly unhappy with the proposals on Long Term Disability that provide a different level of coverage for new hires and reduce Long Term Disability Coverage to 19 months from 24 months.

“Even existing employees were not in favou

BURNABY — CUPE members voted overwhelmingly against a proposed agreement in the Community Health sector.

The two-year deal features no general wage increase, no new money for benefits, and no major improvements in employee rights.

Members of CUPE Local 3495, representing workers at the BC Persons with AIDS Society, voted 94% against the proposed agreement.

“Members were appalled that the new deal eliminates pre-existing conditions from coverage under our Long Term Disability plan for new employees,” explains CUPE 3495 president, Zoran Stjepanovic.

CUPE BC applauds the solidarity of LPNs who have chosen to stay with the Hospital Employees’ Union.

Commenting on the January 18 announcement that the BC Nurses’ Union leadership failed to meet sign up targets necessary to represent LPNs, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill said that the Labour Board should dismiss the BCNU raid applications.

“This has been a colossal waste of time and resources. It has created divisions among health care workers in a bargaining year. And it has undermined solidarity and trust within the labour movement,” said O’Neill.

VANCOUVER—CUPE’s Community Health bargaining committee is recommending rejection of the tentative agreement reached with the Liberal government and the BCGEU last week.

The tentative agreement offers no general wage increases for two years and trades off hard-won existing benefits for new benefits.

VANCOUVER - A tentative agreement has been reached between the Community Bargaining Association (which includes the CUPE bargaining committee) and the Health Employers' Association of BC.

VANCOUVER – CUPE and other health unions in the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) are at the table this week with the Health Employers’ Association of B.C.

VANCOUVER – CUPE and other health unions in the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) are at the table this week with the Health Employers’ Association of B.C.

VANCOUVER – CUPE and other health unions in the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) are at the table this week with the Health Employers’ Association of B.C.