This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“When we talked to our members about the agreement, they had real concerns about a 'working short' premium that lets employers off the hook from addressing shortages, and plans to change pension and benefits governance and coverage." — Val Avery, HSABC President
Vancouver (28 Jan. 2019) — Nurses in British Columbia have voted in favour of the tentative 2019-2022 provincial agreement reached between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) and the Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC).
More than 21,000 ballots were cast with 54 per cent of nurses voting to ratify the 3-year deal that was reached in November 2018.
Clause allowing employers to maintain "working short' practice worrisome
But registered psychiatric nurses who are members of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) rejected the terms of the tentative agreement with a 73 per cent no vote.
”HSABC/NUPGE's RPNs have sent a clear message that they, along with B.C. Nurses' Union members, are skeptical real improvements to address workload issues will come,” said Val Avery, HSABC President.
“When we talked to our members about the agreement, they had real concerns about a “working short” premium that lets employers off the hook from addressing shortages, and plans to change pension and benefits governance and coverage,” Avery said.
HSABC/NUPGE to advocate for registered psychiatric nurses within collective agreement
HSABC/NUPGE will continue to vigilantly advocate for registered psychiatric nurses in the Nurses' Bargaining Association as the union bargaining association and employers work within the new collective agreement to address the concerns of all nurses.
The contract comes into effect April 1, 2019 and expires March 31, 2022.