B.C. nurses expand job action as BCNU files a labour complaint over alleged intimidation reports and prepares more picket sites.
B.C. Nurses Turn Up Pressure as Labour Dispute Grows
British Columbia’s nurses are widening their job action as their union says it has received more than 1,400 reports of workplace intimidation since the dispute began.
The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) says it has filed an urgent complaint with the provincial labour board. Meanwhile, the union has added more picket locations as talks with health employers remain stuck.
The move follows a large rally outside Vancouver General Hospital on Tuesday, where hundreds of nurses and supporters gathered. They carried signs, chanted messages and called for better working conditions while passing drivers showed support.
Union Raises Concerns Over Employer Actions
BCNU president Adriane Gear said many nurses reported pressure from managers after the union introduced job action, including overtime bans and limits on non-nursing duties.
According to Gear, some nurses said managers warned them about possible reports to their professional regulator if they did not complete certain tasks.
“We need our licence,” Gear said, explaining why nurses feel these warnings create fear. She added that threats of discipline or job loss are not acceptable during lawful labour action.
However, the Health Employers Association of B.C. said employers are not asking workers to complete duties outside their roles, training, professional responsibilities or agreements.
The association also said it wants to review each concern raised by the union. In addition, it encouraged workers to use existing labour relations channels to resolve workplace issues.
More Hospitals Could See Picket Lines
The BCNU said Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre will join the list of picketed locations by Thursday.
Meanwhile, Gear said the union has plans to increase pressure if negotiations do not improve.
She stressed that nurses do not want to stand on picket lines. Instead, she said they entered health care to support patients, families and communities.
“Being on a picket line is the last thing that any nurse or health-care worker wants to do,” Gear said.
Negotiations Show Little Progress
The latest conflict comes after nurses rejected a tentative agreement last month. About 67 per cent of voting members turned down the proposed deal.
Earlier, 98 per cent of BCNU members voted in favour of allowing strike action.
The union represents about 60,000 nurses across British Columbia. Furthermore, Gear said negotiators met with health employers on Monday, but the discussion did not create major movement.
She said the talks remained respectful, yet employers indicated they could not move beyond their current mandate.
Health Workers Stand Together
The rally outside Vancouver General Hospital also attracted support from other health-care groups, including the Hospital Employees’ Union, the Health Sciences Association of B.C., the BC Federation of Labour and the BC General Employees’ Union.
Hospital Employees’ Union president Barbara Nederpel said health workers want stronger support for the people who keep the health system running.
She added that workers are calling for better care for patients, residents, families and health-care teams.
Essential Services Continue During Job Action
Even as the dispute grows, the BCNU said nurses will continue providing essential services to protect patients.
For now, both sides remain under pressure to find common ground as the labour dispute moves into a new stage.
