Contract security eyed for hospital

Contract security eyed for hospital
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Nov. 13, 2002

Unionized security officers at Burnaby Hospital are sounding the alarm bells after the Fraser Health Authority issued a request for qualifications last week that could lead to the contracting out of their jobs.
Members of the Hospital Employees Union say patient safety may be at risk if a private company is hired to replace the union security workers at the facility.
Christine Yates, a senior security officer with seven years experience at the hospital, remembers the days when she worked for a private company and had little specialized training for her work.
"This change would have an immediate negative impact on front- line health care workers," Yates said. "They want to cut wages in half and with that cut our education and training."
Yates said the former Simon Fraser Health Region was ordered to make its contract security officers part of the union three years ago after a grievance over the 'true employer status.' Once the union came in, security officers saw a change in both their duties and the training they receive.
A major difference between HEU security and contract officers would be the chain of command, Yates said. "We do whatever is requested of us by the nursing staff, by the doctors and other staff that need help on an ongoing basis. But when the contract comes on, they won't take direction from facility staff, they'll take direction from the contract company only."
Since becoming a union member, Yates said she has received technical training in fire safety, code white (nonviolent crisis intervention) response and light urban search and rescue, none of which she believes will be mandatory for contract security officers. As a result, she believes the change will result in higher policing costs for Burnaby city hall.
FHA spokesperson Helen Carkner said changes to the security arrangements at Burnaby Hospital are being prompted by the ongoing financial pressures on the entire health care system.
While companies have until Nov. 25 to respond to the request for qualifications, several other levels of review are necessary before a final decision can be made. No change will happen before spring, she said.
"We have $140 million we have to reduce in our spending, and I think the public would expect us to find those savings in the non-clinical areas first," she said.