Hansen warns health union he won't tolerate patients becoming strike victims By DIRK MEISSNER, Canadian Press
The B.C. government incensed HEU workers two years ago when it introduced legislation that opened the union's contract and allowed health facilities to contract out many jobs such as cleaning and cafeteria work.
Last summer, the government and union leadership worked out a proposal that would see contract concessions in exchange for a rollback of the contracting out, but the union membership rejected it in a vote.
Since then, thousands of HEU workers have lost their jobs, while other workers have signed deals with individual health authorities that include reduced wages.
At the picket line outside Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital, striking workers said they were offered wage cuts and job losses while hospital administrators received bonuses.
'I could make more money being the Wal-Mart greeter,' said one striking worker.
BC Green Party Supports Hospital Employees Union greenparty.bc.ca