Welcome members at Nigel and Harriet House

Issue #3 - May 2011
Welcome members at Nigel and Harriet House
w
orkers at Nigel and Harriet House in
Victoria are the newest members of
Component 2.
“I am very pleased and excited to welcome our
new members to the BCGEU and to our Hospital
and Allied Services component,” said Susanne
Francoeur, Component 2 chairperson. “You have
joined the more than 65,000 women and men
who belong to the best union in BC.”
The BCGEU is close to reaching an agreement
on the terms for the transfer of Nigel and Harriet
House members to positions within the public
service, and members are encouraged to talk to
the BCGEU stewards at Broadmead or their component chairperson, Susanne Francoeur, if they
have questions.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS. Susanne Francoeur, Component
2 chairperson, outside Nigel House in Victoria, workplace of
new members to the Hospital and Allied Services component.
housekeeping, building maintenance, laundry,
activity, dietary, security and rehabilitation services at Riverview Hospital, Forensic Psychiatric
Hospital, Provincial Services – Dietary, Provincial
Services for the deaf and hard of hearing, Youth
Forensic Psychiatric Services, Oak Bay Lodge
and The Lodge at Broadmead.
“I want to thank our new members for their support and patience as we assist them through this
transition period,” Francoeur said.
Members of Component 2, Hospital and Allied
Services, provide nursing care, personal care,
Component 2 pays tribute to vital role of LPNs
Inside...
May 13 marks Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Day, and for Component
2, it is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the critical role of BCGEU
members in ensuring residents at Oak Bay Lodge and Broadmead Care
Society receive the best nursing care possible.
I want to thank Component 2 LPNs for the work they do, day in and day out,
caring for seniors and the disabled at these facilities,” said Susanne Francoeur, Component 2 chair­person. “I am proud to represent LPNs as part of
our diverse membership. You are an impor­tant part of our component.”
Francoeur said the compo­nent will continue to press for expanded scope
of practice and improvements to working conditions for LPNs.
“LPNs are critical to the continuity of care for our most frail and vulnerable
citizens. Our health care system relies on your hard work, dedication and
commitment. You deserve our respect and our thanks.”
The Chat
1
•
Message from the chair
•
Member profile
•
Celebrating IWD
• STO2 information
•
ampaign for C
tax fairness
•
ak Bay Lodge
O
update
•
Injured at work?
• Photos and more!
Component 2 Newsletter
Member profile
Lynn Meskas is a health
care worker at Forensic Psychiatric Hospital
(FPH), where she’s
worked since 1997.
Before coming to FPH,
Lynn Meskas
Meskas worked at Woodlands, then Riverview Hospital.
Meskas is also a long-time BCGEU activist. Like many union activists, Meskas got
involved because she was dissatisfied with
her complaint over poor treatment by a
supervisor. She took on the important role
of steward. Today, she is on the Component
2 executive as first vice-chairperson, and is
also first vice-chairperson of Local 203 and
co-chairperson of the Article 29 committee at
FPH.
Meskas is a strong proponent of workers’
health and safety, and has served as a health
and safety representative for 11 years. She
currently co-chairs the OHS committee at
FPH.
She points to assaults by patients as one
of the biggest health and safety issues her
members face in the workplace: “I try to keep
our members’ safety at the forefront… I
remind them to work safe. It’s a balancing
act between patient care and safety. Our job
is to make sure members have representation
and their rights are protected, and hold the
employer to the wording of the contract.”
Component 2 women
celebrate 100th
anniversary of IWD
Component 2 women joined as part of the Victoria
Labour Council women’s committee – and women
around the world – to celebrate the 100th anniversary
of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2011.
“”The rain stopped just in time so that we could wish
all women a happy International Women’s Day,” said
Susanne Francoeur, Component 2 chairperson.
“We gave out red roses and bread, and talked to
people in the community about how women have made
gains in equality rights, holding public office, accessing post-secondary education, and protecting against
sexual harassment.”
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. Susanne Francoeur,
Component 2 chairperson, joins women from labour
and the community in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day in Vancouver,
March 5.
The Chat
Component 2 also participated in a parade and festival
in Vancouver, March 5, to mark the 100th IWD anniversary.
It was not until 1917 that women in Canada gained the
right to vote. And, it wasn’t until 1929 that women in
Canada were legally declared “persons”.
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Component 2 Newsletter
New year, new opportunities
to work together
of the Riverview closure on our
members.
A
s we have started another
year, there will be more
challenges and hurdles for
Component 2 members to overcome. But with your continued
support and solidarity, we will
be able to defend our members’
rights in the workplace, and
protect and promote the important services they provide to
seniors, people with disabilities,
and the mentally ill.
The provincial government is
proceeding with its plans to
close Riverview Hospital and
patients are being transferred to
new and existing facilities under
the health authorities. Members at Riverview have been
exercising their options, including applying for jobs with the
health authorities, or taking early
retirement (ERIP) or voluntary
departure (VDP) if eligible.
The Riverview Article 29 Committee is working very hard on
our members’ behalf to address
their concerns and ensure their
rights are protected under the
public service master agreement. You have my assurance
that the Component 2 executive is doing everything possible to minimize the impacts
The Chat
Since the announcement in October 2009 that Oak Bay Lodge
was up for sale, negotiations
have been ongoing between
the preferred proponent, Baptist
Housing, and the Vancouver
Island Health Authority (VIHA).
The latest announcement by
VIHA is that it is looking at a
three-way partnership between
VIHA, Oak Bay Lodge and the
Capital Regional Hospital District. We will continue to keep
members apprised of any new
developments. I want to remind
all members at Oak Bay Lodge
that they are protected by the
terms of the 15th public service
master agreement.
The Nigel and Harriet House
merger is close to completion
and our newest members now
enjoy all the rights and benefits
as other Component 2 members in the public service.
All of us know that too often
budget shortfalls lead to increased workload and understaffing, which can compromise
your safety at work. That’s why
we have occupational health and safety committees. Your
occupational health and safety
committee plays a vital role at
your worksite to protect and
improve the safety of all work-
3
ers. I encourage you to work
together, and be safe. If you
have any concerns or questions about workplace health
and safety, contact the BCGEU
members on your occupational
health and safety committee.
We hope you enjoy this issue of
The Chat. Please e-mail me at
susanne.francoeur@bcgeu.ca
if you have any suggestions or
ideas for what you would like
to see in the upcoming issue.
And please ensure the BCGEU
has your current email and
home address, so that you will
continue to receive the newsletter, The Provincial and other
BCGEU publications.
I know it is not always easy,
but I am here to assist you
and answer your questions, as
is the rest of the component
executive. By working together,
we become much stronger and
united.
I wish to thank you all for your
continued support and solidarity. I will continue to advance
your issues on your behalf.
In solidarity,
Susanne Francoeur
Chairperson
Component 2 Newsletter
Sick
from work?
Here’s some STO2 info you need to know
Employees are required to provide medical
evidence (STO2) of their inability to work in
any of the following circumstances:
The STO2, or doctor’s certificate, is one of the
statement forms agreed to by the union and the
employer.
• Where it appears that a pattern of
consistent or frequent absence from
work is developing
Employees who are eligible under the short term
illness and injury plan (STIIP) and need to provide
an STO2 to receive benefits payment are:
• Where employee has been absent for six
consecutive scheduled days of work
• Regular employees shall be covered by
the short term illness and injury plan upon
completion of six months of active service
with the employer.
• Where at least 30 days elapsed since
the last statement was obtained and
the employee has been in receipt of plan
benefits throughout that period.
• Regular employees with less than six months
of service who are unable to work because of
illness or injury are entitled to six days coverage at 75% pay in any one calendar year.
The statement has to be from a medical practitioner qualified to practice in the province of BC
or, where necessary, from a medical practitioner
licensed to practice in the Province of Alberta
or Yukon or a consulting physician to whom the
employee is referred by the medical practitioner in
1 and 2 above.
• Regular employees with three months but
less than six months of service will be entitled
to 15 weeks (75 workdays) of coverage,
consisting of the above six days, or what
remains of the six days entitlement at 75%
pay and the reminder of the 15 weeks at
two-thirds of pay, not to exceed a maximum
weekly benefit of $413 or Employment Insurance maximum weekly sickness benefit
which is higher.
When using a doctor’s prescription certificate
pad instead of an STO2, ensure that all the same
information is on the pad. Also ensure that the
primary and secondary diagnosis is on a separate
prescription pad that is mailed to Government
Employee Health Services (GEHS).
• Auxiliary employees that have completed
1827 hours in 33 pay periods.
The employer is not privy to the Physician’s Confidential Report Primary and Secondary Diagnosis.
That’s why it is important when the form is filled
out, parts 1 and 2 are separated. Part 2 needs to
be mailed to GEHS at the address provided and is
only accessible to the occupational health doctors
and nurses.
important information...
Remember to remove page 2 (Physician’s
Confidential Report) and mail to the
Occupational Health Programs (address
on form) before you return page 1 to the
supervisor.
Ask your steward for assistance if you have any
questions about your STO2 requirement and
instructions on how to fill out the form.
Remember to check www.bcgeu.ca often for Component 2 news!
The Chat
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Component 2 Newsletter
Page 1 – Provide to patient for return to supervisor
Doe
Jane H.
0 00 00 0 19 60 03 17
4510 PEPPER AVE., VANCOUVER, B.C.
BC MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION
FRANK SMITH
Part B
Boxes must
be filled out
L 2 X 2 L 8 604-111-1111
HLW
2 0 1 0 06 10
HR – RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL Jane Doe
X
X
201 0 06 10
X
X
20 1 0 06 1 0
604-111-1111
X
Fill out only for
return to duties
Only prognosis
Lower back pain, pain when twisting and sitting
Fill out only if
employment
modifications
needed
Remove page 1
and return to
supervisor
Perforated tear-off
Extensive info on
primary diagnosis
by physician
Herniated disk
Pulled muscle
Page 2 – Mail to Government Employee Health Services (address above)
The Chat
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Component 2 Newsletter
New turn in the Oak Bay Lodge redevelopment
The BCGEU was again blindsided by the Vancouver Island
Health Authority (VIHA) with its
latest announcement that VIHA
is now in negotiations with the
Capital Regional Hospital District
(CRHD) to become also a partner in the Oak Bay Lodge facility
renewal plan. The announcement was made prior to formally
consulting with the union.
The complete details are not
known, but it appears that the
CRHD will own the residential
care facility and Baptist Housing
Society, the lead proponent, will
manage the facility. Also the latest
news suggests Oak Bay Lodge
could be rebuilt on the existing
site. The plan will apparently take
months before its completion and
will have to be approved by the
provincial government.
The BCGEU is now more than
ever committed to keeping
members informed about developments as they emerge. In a
firm letter from President Walker
to VIHA, CRHD and Baptist
Housing, our request was restated to be included in consultations and communications.
Please check the BCGEU website at www.bcgeu.ca and the
Component 2 site for the latest
updates or ask your stewards.
A reminder to BCGEU members at Oak Bay Lodge that
they are protected by the terms
of the 15th public service master agreement with the provincial government.
All together now! Join
the campaign for public
services and tax fairness
Did you know that the wealthiest 1% of Canadians
pay less in taxes than the poorest 10%? Or that
since the BC Liberals took office, the number of
corporations paying no income tax in BC is five
times higher?
Fair Taxes. Members of the Component 2 executive pledge
their support for quality public services and tax fairness.
(Seated, left to right) Kim Keys, Audrey Todd, Tamara Weber.
(Standing, left to right) Lynn Meskas, Richard Ziemianski,
Mahen Ramdharry, Kulvir Sidhu, Susanne Francoeur, Neil
MacPherson, Bhajan Tathgar.
In fact, Canada has the lowest corporate tax rate
out of the richest seven countries in the world, and
is planning even more corporate tax cuts. Meanwhile, governments in our country are cutting
funding for vital public services like health care,
seniors’ care, mental health, and education.
problem. And we have a revenue problem, because we have a tax fairness problem.
If wealthy corporations and the richest Canadians
paid their fair share of taxes, like we do, we’d have
enough money to pay for better wages and working
conditions for public sector workers and the critical
services they provide to families and communities.
Here in BC, we’ve seen a litany of cuts to community living group homes and other community social
services, highways maintenance, forests management and environmental protection, legal aid, and
support for children and families.
We need to stand up for public services and
tax fairness, and stop these irresponsible
corporate tax cuts. Find out how by visiting
alltogether.nupge.ca. Or go to the BCGEU website at www.bcgeu.ca and look for Quality Public
Services under Campaigns and Issues.
Yet governments keeps blaming public sector
employees and the public services we provide for
their financial woes. The truth is, we don’t have a
spending problem in Canada. And we don’t have
a deficit problem. What we have is a revenue
The Chat
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Component 2 Newsletter
Injured at work? Here’s what to do.
• location of people/materials/substances;
movement, light, glare, noise, air flow; safety
devices;
If you are injured at the workplace, you must report it to the supervisor and the first aid attendant.
You must also fill out an employee injury form.
If a member cannot fill out the form due to their
injury, the supervisor must be notified so that they
can complete the form for the member. This report
begins the investigation process.
• environmental factors;
• ergonomic factors;
• workload;
• morale.
The employer must immediately conduct an invesAccident investigations then go to the safety comtigation into the cause of any accident or
mittee to be reviewed,
incident that:
with recommendations
If you are injured at the
• resulted in serious injury or the death
and follow-up to make
workplace, you must
of a worker (these must be reported
sure they are completed.
report it to the supervisor
to the Workers’ Compensation Board
A timetable for action
and the first aid attendant
(WCB) who will also conduct an
should be established.
investigation);
Workers involved in the
investigation should
• was a minor injury or no injury to
be
kept
informed
of
any
progress
in achieving
a worker (where no medical treatment was
changes.
required) but had the potential for causing
serious injury; these events are often referred
to as near-misses;
Whatever other processes your employer may
have, this is the most important, as accident
investigation is a joint process between your union
and employer representatives.
• involved major structural failures or building
or equipment collapses;
• involved the major release of hazardous
substances;
• resulted in injury to a worker requiring medical
treatment.
Investigations must always be conducted jointly
by an employer representative and a union-designated representative. The investigation should be
completed as soon as possible, within 24 hours
and at the scene of the occurrence. The injured
member should be included for input in process
and corrective measures. The witnesses should
be interviewed for the same purpose of corrective
action and accurate details of the incident. Some
of the factors to be considered are:
WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY. Component 2 members
participate in the BCGEU Occupational Health & Safety
Conference in Richmond, March 12. (Left to right) Richard
Ziemianski, Bhajan Tathgar, Cindy Ingram, Susanne
Francoeur, Kim Keys.
• the work location;
• the job process;
The Chat
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Component 2 Newsletter
MENTAL HEALTH. Mahen Ramdharry, Component 2
executive member, talks with BCGEU members from other
components about key issues facing people with mental
illness, at the BCGEU Mental Health Roundtable in Burnaby,
March 22.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY. Component 2 executive
members rally April 2 at the Canada-US border in
solidarity with public sector workers under attack by
US governments. (Left to right) Kim Keys, Audrey Todd,
Susanne Francoeur.
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE. Audrey Todd,
Component 2 executive and member
of the Provincial Executive Women’s
Committee, reports back from a small
group discussion on life-work balance at
the BCGEU Region 3 women’s conference
in Castlegar, April 9.
LOCAL 203. Members of BCGEU Local 203 at Riverview
Hospital.
Do you have a picture that you would like on the Component 2 website or
included in the next issue of The Chat? Send it to communications@bcgeu.ca
The Chat
cep467/cope378
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Component 2 Newsletter