On December 14, 2009, an agreement was reached at the BC Labour Relations Board to include acupuncturists as employees into the bargaining associations of the BCGEU Paramedical Component and the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association.
This is a historic landmark in the evolution of the acupuncture profession in BC and throughout Canada. For the past 15 years acupuncturists have enjoyed an "independent contractual agreement" to provide their services to clients with addictions with in the BC provincial government medical services.
This new agreement between the Health Employers Association of BC (Vancouver Coastal Health Authority) and the Union Bargaining Associations provides a clear formula for future wages, benefits, job security and basic rights and protection as "unionized employees".
This is particularly important during this time of unprecedented difficult economic period where layoffs and budgets are the priority in health care.
This Labour Relations Board decision will have huge implications for our profession as acupuncturists. The western medical model in BC which is almost entirely unionized in Canada, will soon have a clear and fair labour relations practice "classification" for hiring practitioners of acupuncture. As acupuncturists we now can enjoy the rights and respect and benefits which are provided other health care professionals in BC. The "Paramedical Component" of the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU)and the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSA) will provide their full support and security of their collective agreements with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).
The deed is done. The best possible agreement for the acupuncture profession was reached as a result of the superb legal team work of the union organizers. (Gary Hall, lawyer for the BCGEU and Stepanie Ryan, union organizor and Jessica Bowering, lawyer for the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association. Their focus, determination and relentless attention to details was a pleasure to watch. We owe a large debt of gratitude to these individuals.
As far as I am aware, we are the first unionized acupuncturists on the North American continent to enjoy the basic rights and privileges of other health care professionals employed by the government health care system. This is a precedent setting agreement and a giant step forward for our profession.
Sincerely,
Les Moncrieff, Reg Ac.
