Hospital transfer workers escalate job action over wages and vehicle safety

About 200 hospital transfer workers in the Lower Mainland have escalated job action against SN Transport, their employer, after nine months of failed contract negotiations.

Workers stopped wearing uniforms on Aug. 23 and began refusing overtime work on Sunday. The union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says the main sticking point is wages. Wilson Molina, a driver with 11 years at the company, earns $27.60 an hour — less than Metro Vancouver's living wage. "I love my job," Molina said. "But when we're not given the right tools and the right compensation, it makes me wonder, Why am I doing this?"

Vehicle disrepair is a second major concern. Molina described water leaking into buses, broken air conditioning and heaters, and engines with warning lights frequently on. "Most of the buses have that issue," he said. "It's very rare that I can actually keep a bus that has no major issues."

ATU Local 1724 president Joe McCann said workers are prepared to strike if necessary. "If we have to go there, we'll go there," McCann said. "We want to see at least an effort for them to provide something our members can vote yes on."

SN Transport, the main hospital transfer service in the Lower Mainland, operates a $483-million contract with the Provincial Health Services Authority to move patients between hospitals including Surrey Memorial, Vancouver General and Chilliwill General, long-term care facilities and their homes. Workers escort patients from bed to bed and are responsible for moving medical charts.

An SN Transport spokesperson said the company is ready to return to the negotiating table and believes "we are very close to an agreement that provides a fair and competitive compensation package." The company added that vehicles are inspected twice yearly and those with reported safety concerns are removed from service until cleared by a qualified mechanic.

The unionization came last year under pressure from working conditions workers say have deteriorated since private equity firm Arviat Equity Partners purchased the company about two years ago.