Members of the Hospital Employees Union have voted 96% in favour of striking to back their contract demands. The union says they are looking for basic employment security and fair wages.
The HEU members provide dietary and housekeeping services at hospitals and care facilities throughout B.C.
Those jobs were pritivatized over a decade ago and the union says that resulted in work being contracted out to multi-national companies, with wages, benefits and pensions slashed.
Contracts for most of the workers expire in September.
HEU's secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside is hopeful the strong strike mandate will encourage employers to reach negotiated settlements.
The talks cover 75 hospitals and extended care facilities, in four different health authorities, affecting 11 different collective agreements.