IMPORTANT HEALTH BULLETIN: Vancouver Coastal Health layoffs

VANCOUVER - CUPE 15 was notified yesterday by Vancouver Coastal Health that they intend to eliminate several positions across the organization. The notice we received from the employer states: 

“Please be advised that Vancouver Community based programming is realigning  Services, Programming & Resources. These changes are being made in order to improve service efficiencies and delivery, help build capacity and help address budget pressures and shortfalls. These changes will result in employee displacements, transfers, program closures and hours of work/schedule changes.” 

We are very troubled to be informed of these layoffs. The Provincial Government claimed that their latest budget was “protecting vital services” which once again appears not to be true. We will  comment more on these service cuts when we receive more detailed information.  

The employer has identified approximately 12 FTE and several part time positions that fall within our jurisdiction and are under both of our collective agreements (CBA and HSPBA). We have sent a separate letter to all members identified by the employer with additional information including outlining the full support our union will provide.  

It is important to note that the notice that the employer served our union with was under Section 54 of the BC Labour Code. This section, known as an Adjustment Plan requires the employer to meet with the union and in good faith endeavour to develop an adjustment plan that could include alternatives to the layoffs, employee counselling, retraining, severance pay, early retirement benefits, and other conditions.  

Section 54 also stipulates that the pending layoffs cannot occur until 60 days after the serving of the notice on the trade union. Our union received the notice on May 3, 2010.  

Tomorrow our union representatives will meet the employer to gain more information and on Thursday we are holding a special meeting with our shop stewards to review the matter.  

We will send out further information as it becomes available. Information will be faxed to worksites and posted on our website at www.cupe15.org.