November 18, 2008

National Medicare Week – November 17 to 22 – a time for action

Supporters of public health care gather across the country to celebrate Natioanal Medicare Week by taking part in events and calling on government to protect public services.

In British Columbia, health care coalitions are advocating for the expansion of public health care, the end to public-private projects (P3s) and the elimination of private clinics – something they say contravene the Canada Health Act.

The BC Health Coalition (BCHC) urges British Columbians to send letters or emails to their MLA’s, Premier Gordon Campbell and health ministers - asking for improvements to seniors’ care, better housing for people with disabilities and access to affordable, quality health care for all citizens.

November 7, 2008

As part of the ongoing review of benchmarks in the facilities subsector (p.107 of the Collective Agreement), the Union Benchmark Review Committee is seeking input for the second part of the review for the occupations listed below.

At sessions scheduled for early November, union members in the affected occupational groups will have an opportunity to participate in focused discussions on their benchmarks, as well as review changes to those benchmarks being proposed by health employers.

These sessions are open to all members of the Health Services and Support Facilities Subsector Collective Agreement (IUOE, HEU, BCGEU, IBEW, CSWU, USWA, BCNU, UBCJA, UAJAP&P, and IUPAT) who are members of the occupations listed below.

If you are matched to more than one benchmark you are welcome to attend the discussions for each of the benchmarks you are matched to.

The meetings will be held at:

The Conference Center, HEU Provincial Office
5000 North Fraser Way
Burnaby, BC
From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

If you would like to ttend the meeting or pre-register for a conference call please contact: 

THE HEU OFFICE AT (604) 456-7120 or
EMAIL AT heu@heu.org
NO LATER THAN MONDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2008 AT 3:00 PM

**For out of town members who want to participate, you can do so by pre-registering for a conference call for the appropriate session (phone or email for details).

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2008 FROM 6:00 – 8:00

**Boiler Operator (Benchmark 13001, Page 4-1)
**Supervising Boiler Operator (Benchmark 13002, Page 4-2)
**Power Engineer 4 (Benchmark 13003, Page 4-3)
**Supervising Power Engineering 4 (Benchmark 13004, Page 4-4)
**Chief Power Engineer 4 (Benchmark 13005, Page 4-5)
**Power Engineer 3 (Benchmark 13006, Page 4-6)
**Supervising Power Engineer 3 (Benchmark 13007, Page 4-7)
**Chief Power Engineer 3 (Benchmark 13008, Page 4-8)
**Power Engineer 2 (Benchmark 13009, Page 4-9)
**Supervising Power Engineer 2 (Benchmark 13010, Page 4-10)
**Chief Power Engineer 2 (Benchmark 13011, Page 4-11)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2008 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

**Maintenance Supervisor I (Benchmark 13401, Page 6-1)
**Maintenance Supervisor II (Benchmark 13402, Page 6-2)
**Maintenance Supervisor III (Benchmark 13403, Page 6-3)
**Maintenance Supervisor IV (Benchmark 13404, Page 6-4)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

**Maintenance Worker I (Benchmark 13101, Page 5-1)
**Maintenance Worker II (Benchmark 13102, Page 5-2)
**Maintenance Worker III (Benchmark 13103, Page 5-3)**Maintenance Worker IV, Charge (Benchmark 13104, Page 5-4)
**Maintenance Worker IV, Plant System Repairs (Benchmark 13105, Page 5-5)
**Radiographic Processor maintainer (Benchmark 13106, Page 5-5.1) 
**Maintenance Worker V (Benchmark 13107, Page 5-6)

November 7, 2008

 After discussions and negotations that began in May 2007, members of the joint union and employer trades classification committee have agreed to revise 17 of 24 benchmarks, as well as create two new benchmarks in the trades job family.

Effective December 1, 2008, positions within the trades classification will be reviewed and adjusted to match updated or new benchmarks.

This process has brought 20-year-old trades benchmarks in line with today’s modern health care institutions and equipment.

In addition to the 17 revisions, the refrigeration mechanic and air condition mechanic have been combined into a single benchmark called refrigeration/ air conditioning (R/AC) mechanic.  And the head refrigeration mechanic and the head air conditioning mechanic have been combined ino the head refrigeration/ air conditioning (R/AC) mechanic.

Both parties have also agreed to create two new benchmarks, millwright and head millwright, and to delete three benchmarks, plasterer and head plasterer, as well as head laundry mechanic.