Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid issued the following statement today about the suspension of planned job action by unions within the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association:

"I am relieved the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association has suspended planned job action that was directly putting patients and families in the middle of a wage dispute and will be consulting with their membership about the status of negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC."

"I've worked side-by-side with these health-care professionals and have a huge respect for them and their work, but there is an appropriate process in place to deal with these issues and that is at the bargaining table.

"The employer has offered the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association a fair wage increase over two years, which is within government's Cooperative Gains Mandate, and is similar to the agreements already signed with more than half of the health-care workers in British Columbia.

"The job action last week had a serious impact on patient care and resulted in an estimated 3,000 patients having their procedures cancelled, including diagnostic imaging and surgeries, and an additional 1,500 patients could not access services during the job action.

"We've been clear we have to make sure health-care costs are sustainable to ensure access to quality and timely care for British Columbians now and in the future, and that's why we're working with the very people who deliver health care to find fair and balanced settlements - they know best where costs can be controlled.

"We have already successfully reached agreements with doctors, residents, nurses and members of the facilities bargaining group. These experiences have shown that parties can reach agreements without putting additional financial burden on taxpayers.

"I encourage the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association to work with the employer to reach a settlement."

Media contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 413-7121 (cell)