BC nurses issue 72-hour strike notice after rejecting tentative agreement

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) has issued a 72-hour strike notice after rejecting a tentative agreement. 

This tentative agreement was reached nearly two months ago between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) and health employers. However, that agreement has now been rejected and a strike notice has been issued, escalating the negotiations. 

In early May, 50,850 nurses participated in a province-wide strike vote. Of those nurses, 98.2% voted in favour of job action. 

BCNU says that this pressure is what led to a tentative agreement which was reached on May 22nd. 

However, the latest development has seen this agreement rejected by 67% of union members. 

According to the union, this rejection is signalling a growing belief among nurses that the status quo is no longer sustainable. 

“This is fundamentally a conversation about priorities,” said Adriane Gear, president of BCNU.

“Nurses want to know why the health authorities continue to spend millions of dollars on costly short-term staffing solutions, while the nurses who are here for the long-term struggling with workload pressures, unsafe working conditions and staffing shortages are being told the cupboards are empty.”

The union says that although the rejected tentative agreement saw improvements to benefits and shift premiums, it did not go far enough.

Specifically, union members want to see a general wage increase that reflects the role they play in sustaining a healthcare system that is operating beyond its limits. 

BCNU says that if they do not receive an offer that recognizes the value of their work in the next 72 hours, nurses could begin job action later this week.

“This is not a step BC nurses want to take,” said Jim Gould, NBA chief negotiator and BCNU CEO. 

“However, many have reached the point where they feel they have no choice but to shine a light on the realities they face every day while caring for British Columbians in crowded hospitals, under-staffed long-term care facilities, community health settings and patient’s homes across the province.”

BCNU added that the union remains committed to reaching a negotiated agreement. 

Union members are in a legal position to begin their strike on Thursday, July 2nd, at 12:01 p.m.