Long Negotiations Lead to Tentative Contract for Health-Science Professionals
After nearly a year of bargaining between the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) and the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), negotiators have announced a tentative contract agreement covering roughly 25,000 health-science workers across the province. The deal was reached following five days of intense discussions, including a 24-hour marathon session at the bargaining table.
Officials say the tentative agreement aims to improve both compensation and working conditions for professionals such as medical technologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers, all of whom play vital roles in British Columbia’s health-care system.
Wage Increases and Conditions Upgraded Under Mandate
Under the province’s 2025 Balanced Measures Mandate, the tentative deal includes general wage increases of 12 per cent spread over a four-year period, which represents the maximum possible within the government’s current wage-mandate limits.
In addition to pay gains, the agreement reportedly contains improvements related to scheduling, job classifications, work-life balance, special leave, occupational health and safety provisions, and funding for professional development. Measures to address staffing shortages — a key concern driving wait times and care delays — are also part of the proposed contract.
Union Endorses Ratification Vote, Full Details to Come
Union leaders involved in the bargaining process have recommended that members vote to accept the tentative agreement when the ratification period begins in the coming weeks. Members will receive detailed information about the terms and be invited to participate in an online vote to approve or reject the contract.
Until the ratification vote is complete, full contract details are not yet public. However, union representatives emphasize that the proposed terms respond to many priorities their members identified during negotiations, including addressing workload pressures and improving recognition for specialized health science roles.
What This Means for Health-Care Services
If ratified, the agreement could help boost morale among health-science professionals and curb retention issues that have strained health services in recent years. By combining wage increases with measures designed to improve working conditions and professional support, the deal aims to strengthen B.C.’s public health-care system while maintaining labour stability amid broader challenges in the public sector.
Members will decide the fate of the tentative contract in the weeks ahead as they weigh the proposed improvements against ongoing pressures facing the province’s health-care workforce.
Stay updated instantly — follow us on Instagram | Facebook | XÂ
