Legislation introduced today by the Gordon Campbell government that would
impose massive wage rollbacks on 43,000 hospital and long-term care staff
while allowing for the continued privatization of health services is a
shocking betrayal of workers, say health unions.
«The Campbell Liberals continue to demonstrate nothing but disdain for
the women and men working on health cares front lines,» says HEU
secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt.
«Once again, this premier and his government have callously rewritten the
law to suit their privatization agenda in health care and violated the
legal rights of tens of thousands of workers in the process.
«Bill 37 is nothing short of a stinging indictment of this governments
failure to deal honestly, openly and cooperatively with those who deliver
health care to British Columbians,» adds Allnutt who also speaks for the
multi-union bargaining association.
Since their election in 2001, the government has used legislation to
impose agreements on doctors, nurses and paramedical professionals and to
rip up the last collective agreement negotiated by this group of health
care workers.
But Bill 37 is the first time the Campbell Liberals have imposed wage and
benefit cuts on a group of workers through legislation.