B.C. hospital housekeeping and dietary workers have voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.
The workers, who are bargaining with multi national organizations that work under contract from four different health authorities, are looking for some sort of job security and fair wages.
Of the 4000 members of the Hospital Employees’ Union involved, hundreds of them work at the Duncan, Nanaimo, Powell River, and Sechelt hospitals as well as at Shornecliffe and Totem extended care homes.
HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside says just because the multi nationals are now the employers it doesn’t mean health authorities are off the hook…..
Whiteside is hopeful the strong strike mandate will encourage employers to reach negotiated settlements…..
The contracts for most of the workers expire in September of this year.
