Government blamed for job losses

CASTANET: Wayne Moore - Jan 26, 2009
More than 30 health care workers in Vernon and Armstrong are about to lose their jobs. The BC Government and Services Employees Union is placing the blame at the feet of the provincial government. All of the workers were employed by AdvoCare, a private health service company.
Union officials claim two health care facilities in Vernon and Armstrong terminated the contract with AdvoCare because they had just negotiated a new collective agreement with the facilities.
"This is another outrageous example of policies of the Campbell government that allow private health care operators to flip contracts at will to prevent front-line workers from earning a decent wage," says BCGEU President, Darryl Walker. He says in December, employees successfully negotiated a contract which saw salaries increase from $14 an hour to $18 an hour. "It's all linked to the Liberal's notorious Bill 29. Employers have massive powers to contract out important health care jobs and flip contracts at will."