VANCOUVER—Voting locations and dates have now been set for CUPE members who are part of the Health Sciences Professionals Bargaining Association. CUPE’s Healthcare President’s Council has been fielding many member questions on the tentative agreement, particularly around changes to Grade I and Grade II positions.
“Changes that suspend the definition of General Supervision come into effect on April 1,” says Frank De Waard, CUPE bargaining committee representative and President of CUPE Local 4816. “Funds saved by this change, along with the loss of one vacation day, will help pay for benefit increases that come into effect in 2012.”
De Waard says that the proposal confirming that moving all Grade 1s to Grade 2 is a priority for future negotiations is not guaranteed and is subject to the allocation of sufficient funding. “This could well become an empty promise if funding is not in place,” says De Waard.
CUPE’s Healthcare President’s Council recommends a “No” vote on the tentative agreement. The following ratification dates have been set:
CUPE Local 15
January 25th
11:30 - 1:00pm
Richmond Hospital
Park Room, 2nd floor Richmond Hospital (off cafeteria)
7000 Westminster Hwy
Richmond
Information Session and Vote
January 26th
12:00pm - 1:00pm
132 West Esplanade
North Vancouver
Panorama room
Information Session and Vote
January 27th
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Italian Cultural Centre
3075 Slocan Street
Vancouver
Information Session and Vote
January 28th
11:30 – 1:30pm
CUPE Local 15 Office
545 W 10th
Vancouver
Drop-in Vote
CUPE Local 1978
January 31st
12:15 - 2:30pm
Saanich Health Unit MPR
3995 Quadra Street
Information Session
February 3rd
11:30 - 2:00pm
Victoria Health Unit MPR
Vote
CUPE Local 4816
January 24th
4:30-6:00pm
#300-4946 Canada Way, Burnaby
(3RD Floor Community Ed. Room)
Information Session and Vote
CUPE represents over 500 members in the HSPBA bargaining association, represented by CUPE Locals 15, 1978 and 4816.
CUPE’s representatives on the bargaining committee are Frank De Waard, (Team Leader with Burnaby Home Health), Caroline Mewis (Physiotherapist with Richmond Health) and Justin Schmid, CUPE National Representative.