There is going to be some disruption in services at Vernon Jubilee Hospital this week.
As part of an ongoing labour dispute, pharmacists will reduce their work to essential services Thursday. On Friday, medical imaging technologists who conduct X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds will reduce their work to essential service levels.
“Health science professionals have been at the bargaining table for eight months, and progress has been very limited. In fact, at the last bargaining meeting, the employer was a no-show,” said Health Sciences Association of B.C. president Reid Johnson.
“As the weeks pass and we see fair and reasonable settlements reached with other public sector workers, our members want to know when it is they can expect government to show up and bargain a fair and reasonable contract?”
Johnson says that while other health care workers get wage increases from the government, health science professionals have been falling behind.
“We are scheduled to return to bargaining this week, and hope this planned strike action gets the attention of the government to come to the table and negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement before we are forced to take action that inconveniences the public.”
During the labour action, there will not be picket lines.
However, union members will provide information to the public.
