Health Care Services Collective Agreement Act Passed

The BC legislature passed the Health Care Services Collective Agreements Act (Bill 15) last night. The Act also received Royal Assent, bringing it into force. The Act ends strikes by nurses and paramedical employees in the health sector, and sets the terms of new collective agreements for both groups. The collective agreements in both cases will consist of the previous contract as modified by items already agreed to, and the last offer made by the Health Employers Association of BC. The collective agreements are now in force and will expire on March 31, 2004. Strikes while a collective agreement is in force are prohibited by the BC Labour Relations Code.