Over 50,000 BC nurses vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action

More than 50,000 nurses across BC have voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential job action, as contract negotiations between the BC Nurses’ Union and the province’s health employers remain at an impasse.

The union announced Tuesday that 98.2% of participating nurses voted in favour of strike action following a province-wide vote held between May 8th and 11th.

According to the union, the vote comes after roughly six months of bargaining with the Health Employers Association of BC over issues including staffing shortages, workplace safety, workloads and nurse retention.

“This vote is a defining moment,” BC Nurses’ Union president Adriane Gear said in a statement. “Nurses across British Columbia are demanding the respect, safety and fair contract they deserve.”

The Nurses’ Bargaining Association declared an impasse in negotiations on April 20th after talks broke down.

The union says nurses are seeking improvements tied to nurse-to-patient ratios, occupational health and safety concerns, workplace violence protections and recruitment and retention efforts amid thousands of vacancies across the province.

While the strike vote gives nurses the legal authority to take job action, no strike dates or specific actions have been announced.

The union said nurses “do not want to be in this position” but argue a stronger contract is needed to stabilize the healthcare system and improve patient care across BC, including communities on Vancouver Island that continue to face staffing shortages and service disruptions.

The issue also drew political reaction Tuesday, with the Conservative Party of British Columbia criticizing the provincial government’s handling of the healthcare system.

“Nurses are being pushed to their breaking point,” BC Conservative health critic Anna Kindy said in a statement, pointing to concerns around workplace violence, staffing shortages and nurse retention.

The party said there are currently about 4,500 vacant nursing positions across the province and called for improved working conditions, safer workplaces and better retention measures.

The BC government has not yet publicly responded to the strike vote.