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Eighty-seven workers were repatriated at Richmond Hospital last week under the province’s Bill 47.

Photo by Jaana Björk

Vancouver Coastal Health welcomes back 864 environmental, food-service workers

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 12:35 PDT, Mon October 31, 2022

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People accessing health care in the Lower Mainland, North Shore, Sunshine Coast, and Sea-to-Sky will benefit from 864 environmental services and food-service workers returning to the public system as Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) employees.

The change comes after almost 20 years of workers having services contracted out to private companies.

"A strong health-care workforce begins with workers who have stable, well-paying jobs and are respected as integral part of the care team," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. "That is why we have been working hard over several years to transition workers back to the public system with better wages, better benefits, and better working conditions. Welcoming them back to Vancouver Coastal Health is a critical step forward, creating a stronger health-care system for all of us."

Health authorities and Providence Health Care continue to repatriate workers under Bill 47, bringing an estimated 4,000 workers back into the public system.

On Friday (Oct. 28), 835 environmental services and food-service workers were repatriated at 31 VCH sites, including 118 at Richmond sites (87 at Richmond General Hospital, 18 at Minoru Residence, eight at Richmond Lions Manor, two at Richmond Bridge House, and three at Richmond Day Centre).

"When we care for our health-services workers, we create a work environment that provides better care for patients,” said Richmond–Queensborough MLA Aman Singh. “I’m pleased to welcome workers back to Vancouver Coastal Health facilities in Richmond, and I know that our health-care system is stronger because of them."

To address inequality and enhance working conditions for employees in health-care facilities, government is ensuring that workers have the benefits, pension, and wages they deserve to be able to help patients. Evidence has shown that employees who feel secure and safe in their jobs provide higher quality care for people and, in turn, employers can attract and retain staff at a higher and more consistent level.

Following the initial announcement on Aug. 30, 2021, health authorities and Providence Health Care served notice under the terms of 21 commercial service contracts and began a phased approach to repatriate housekeeping and food-service contracts, beginning with Island Health.

"The work of environmental services and food-service workers within the health system directly contributes to the well-being and safety of patients and staff who are there," said Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors' Services and Long-Term Care. "Bringing these workers back to the health team at Vancouver Coastal Health recognizes their importance and ensuring that they are compensated fairly is the right thing to do. I am very proud of all the work done under Bill 47. This is great news for all British Columbians."

Work to bring health-care service workers back into the public system began in 2019 when the province brought Bill 47 (Health Sector Statutes Repeal Act) into force. Bill 47 repealed the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act (Bill 29) and the Health Sector Partnerships Agreement Act (Bill 94), which had facilitated contracting in the health sector and caused labour impacts.

In 2020, the process was started with the North Island Hospitals, which spearheaded the move independently of Bill 47 to bring 150 contracted workers in house at the Campbell River and Comox Valley hospitals.

Learn more about Bill 47 here: archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2017-2021/2018HLTH0102-002147.htm