B.C. nurses vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike

The BC Nurses’ Union says its nearly 55,000 members are prepared to take job action if necessary.

The union announced the results of a four-day vote Tuesday morning after reaching an impasse with the province last month.

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BCNU President Adriane Gear says it’s the first time in 25 years that nurses across the province have voted to authorize job action. She says a historic 98.2 per cent ‘yes’ vote delivers a “mandate for change.”

“This vote reflects the depth of frustration nurses are feeling after six months at the bargaining table, where too many of our members’ priorities have been ignored,” said Gear.

“To the nurses who voted — the 50,850 of you, thank you. This extraordinary result is a testament to our solidarity and determination to stand up for ourselves, for our patients, for our profession, and for the future of public health care. In B.C., it sends a powerful message that nurses across the province are united, engaged and ready to fight for the respect, safety, and contract improvements we deserve.”

Throughout the process of the vote, Gear and the union have insisted that job action is “the last thing” nurses want.

“We are willing to go back to the table. We have signalled that to the employer. They have also signalled that they’re willing to come back to the table. This is the final last chance, however, and then if that doesn’t work out, then we will consider our options in terms of escalating job action,” said Gear Tuesday.

She says nurses did not put the province in this situation.

“The strains of the system and the government and the employer have put us here — the lack of response to some of our issues, including violence, but also crushing workloads. So we need government to ensure that the employer is going to come to the table, and we hope that we can get a deal, and if not, then we will escalate job action.”

Wages, benefits, and working conditions continue to be the main sticking points. B.C. Premier David Eby has said he’s confident his government will “find a path forward” with the union.

Nurses are considered an essential service under the Labour Relations Board, meaning any upcoming job action will be limited.

Gear says no immediate change is about to take place, reminding the public that job action requires 72 hours’ notice.

“Our next move is to get back to the table,” she explained.

“We want to negotiate a collective agreement that respects nurses. So I think we want the public to be assured that nothing is going to change in the next few days. However, if we can’t get a deal, then we will consider our options, which will include job action.”

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