Some 225 health-care employees at Fischer Place, Mill Site Lodge and 100 Mile District General Hospital can soon cast their vote on a strike mandate being sought by several health unions in the province.
A number of local BC Ambulance employees will also vote, as they would fall under any resulting job action.
The Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) represents about 85 per cent of the workers covered by this round of talks, although there are other unions involved.
At this point, HEU communications director Mike Old says they need the strike vote mandate.
"We are asking our members to deliver a strong strike mandate, and we will use that to get the employers back to the bargaining table and serious about negotiating a fair contract that our members can support.
"So that is our first priority. We are a long way from using the strike mandate to take job action."
The 11-union Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) states talks have stalled on a number of issues, including health employers' refusal to extend employment security provisions. This move would open up health care to further privatization and put jobs at risk, the FBA explains.
The province-wide voting will take place April 22-30. If members vote in favour of a strike mandate, they will then have 90 days to initiate any job action.
Levels for essential services must also be established before a potential strike could happen, Old explains.
"We are just finalizing those essential service levels with health employers and the BC Labour Relations Board."
What sort of job action could result, if it comes down to that, is wide open, he says.
"We have got lots of options at our disposal, but first and foremost it’s getting back to the bargaining table and negotiating an agreement."
Other unions involved are Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 873 – which includes the local ambulance employees – the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 882/882H.