HSP Bargaining and Classification Update
Dear PEA members,
I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates affecting our chapter. As many of you know, bargaining is underway as your collective agreement expires on March 31, 2025. In our one-on-one conversations, discussions with local reps, your feedback to the chapter executive, and, most recently, the bargaining survey, your priorities are loud and clear.
Key Priorities for Bargaining
Wages remain a critical issue and will be a top priority during this round of negotiations. However, wages are not just a matter of more money. The reality is that the future of public sector healthcare is at risk, and stagnant wages will drive our members to the private sector, where wages are higher. Despite the economic realities faced by our health science professionals, many of you remain committed to the public sector, even in the face of low wages, burnout, overwhelming workloads, and ongoing vacancies.
This dedication is invaluable, reminding us that you are the lifeline of our communities in BC. But it is simply not enough to ask our members to continue at this cost to their economic well-being and health.
Addressing wage inequities is critical to ensuring that the public sector remains competitive and retains our valuable health science professionals. Remember, it is the public sector that ultimately plays a critical role in supporting patients who may have sought private healthcare services.
For example, many members are lone providers in their communities, often without administrative support, or colleagues who can step in, resulting in long hours and burnout. Many of our members serve and perform direct clinical work with high-risk patients. This issue extends to our members in critical roles like public health engineers, who are essential to BC’s infrastructure but face ongoing recruitment challenges in the absence of competitive pay and support.
Negotiations for new contract have begun
Negotiations to determine the pay, benefits and protections for your next contract have begun. The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) bargaining committee, met with the employer for initial discussions on March 6.
I am the PEA representative during this round of bargaining. Jean Meyers, HAS, is the lead negotiator representing the HSPBA committee, with Norah Miner, HSA staff, as second negotiation lead.
The PEA will be reporting to members on the progress of negotiations in the coming weeks and months. These updates will be provided by email, so it’s important to keep your contact information up to date. To check to see if PEA has your current information, login to the PEA Member Portal , and please encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Essential Service Work Nearly Complete
Negotiations with employers are in full swing for setting essential services levels across health care, as required by law. This work is being done by the PEA and the HSP Executive.
British Columbia’s essential services legislation creates a balance between workers’ rights to strike, and the need to protect the public from “immediate and serious danger.” While bargaining can proceed, essential service levels must be established before any form of job action can be undertaken.
When essential service levels are in place, the employers’ human resources are reduced, placing pressure on the employer to get back to the bargaining table. A balance is thereby struck, which prevents the chaos of a total withdrawal of service in the health care system but allows meaningful collective bargaining to take place.
We will keep you informed as negotiations continue.
Classification Roll-Out and Updates
I want to update you on the new profile-based classification system, which was fully implemented on December 6, 2024. Unfortunately, for many members, this has resulted in discrepancies regarding compensation and classification. If you’re affected, please review the new wage schedules and reach out to your supervisor to confirm your compensation is correct.
P2A Update
For those involved in special procedures/techniques, please note there is no deadline for adding work to the P2A profile. Your union has submitted our P2A claim and is awaiting a response. If you believe your position should be classified as P2A but is listed as P1, please document your work time and keep track of it. This will help ensure you receive the proper retro pay if/when the employer agrees to update your classification.
I’ve been in communication with our union’s siblings’ part of the HSPBA and they’ve also experienced delays in hearing from the employer. The next step will be to advance this issue to arbitration, which is not a quick process. I will work to update affected members and share developments.
Classification Grievances
I have received feedback that some clinicians and educators, particularly those qualifying for P2B, were classified as P1. Your union intends to file grievances for these members, and I ask for your patience as we work through these matters while prioritizing bargaining.
Additionally, for our members who fall under the “anomalous/unique” role category, please get in touch with me so we can ensure your situation is properly addressed. The employers have classified unique roles as those that include:
- Supervisory or leadership roles with no designated FTEs
- Multi-profession roles with varying wage schedules for different health science professions
- Supervisory roles overseeing teams of multiple health professionals
If your role fits into one of these categories, please email Ifarah@pea.org to discuss.
Thank you for your patience as I work through these critical issues with ongoing bargaining.
In solidarity,
Idil Farah
Labour Relations Officer
