B.C. nurses picketing Surrey Memorial Hospital, announce plans to expand job action
Posted July 9, 2026 11:21 am.
Last Updated July 10, 2026 12:52 pm.
The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) says members have set up picket lines at both Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre Thursday.
More job action is coming, said the BCNU.
“The dispute between B.C.’s nurses and health employers is entering a significantly new phase, with job action expanding to additional hospitals and care centres across the province following the breakdown of negotiations and the declaration of an impasse again at the bargaining table,” it said.
“Beginning this weekend, picket lines will extend beyond Vancouver to major health-care facilities across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, increasing pressure on the provincial government to intervene and deliver a mandate that allows meaningful bargaining.”
The union began the first phase of job action at 12:01 p.m. July 2, with BCNU president Adriane Gear saying this came after members had not had a “meaningful response” from health employers since issuing a 72-hour strike notice June 29. At the time, Gear told CityNews the job action involved banning non-nursing duties and restricting overtime.
The first picket lines were set up at Vancouver General Hospital Tuesday morning.
“We have reached a critical point in this dispute,” Gear had said.
“Nurses have bargained in good faith, and we’ve taken measured job action while maintaining essential services to protect patient safety. The provincial government can end this dispute. It can provide health employers with a mandate that retains nurses, strengthens public health care, and prevents further disruption. We are calling on government to act.”
The BCNU says that since the beginning of job action, it has received more than 2,300 complaints from members who say they have been victims of intimidation, coercion, and threats.
“Reports include threats of discipline, warnings that nurses could face complaints to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, and pressure to perform non-nursing duties and work mandatory overtime,” the union said.
The union says it has filed an unfair labour practice application with the BC Labour Relations Board.
“Nurses should never be threatened or intimidated for exercising their legal rights,” said Gear.
“What we are hearing from our members is deeply concerning. Instead of listening to nurses and working with us to resolve this dispute, health employers have chosen to challenge the very people who keep our hospitals running. That is not acceptable.”
Unless the situation changes, the BCNU says, picket lines will be set up at the following health-care centres:
- Sunday, July 12: Victoria General Hospital;
- Monday, July 13: Nanaimo Regional General Hospital; and
- Tuesday, July 14: Royal Jubilee Hospital and South Island Surgical Centre.
“Essential services will remain in place throughout the job action to ensure urgent and emergency care continues and patient safety remains protected,” the union says.
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne, issued the following statement to CityNews Vancouver:
“Nurses are central to our health-care system, and our commitment hasn’t changed: a fair deal for nurses that supports our shared work to strengthen care for patients. Nurses’ priorities are our priorities too – hiring more nurses, implementing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios to strengthen patient care and support quality environments for nurses, and protection from workplace violence. While we’ve made progress together on these priorities, there’s no question there’s more to do.”
“Progress has been made at the bargaining table on important issues this week, but substantial gaps still remain. The Health Employers Association of BC is ready to return to the table at any time and it’s our expectation that they will continue to work with the union to reach an agreement that is fair for nurses and sustainable for the public health-care system they support.”
“I know this dispute is placing real strain on people: patients facing longer waits, and health-care workers carrying a heavy load. Those with the most urgent needs are being seen first, and essential services remain in place at every site – including during picketing.”
