BCNU Leadership Looks Forward to Busy and Productive Autumn

BCNU's leadership is moving into the fall season with renewed energy and a clear focus on bargaining preparation and continued member and public outreach.

On September 1, seven new BCNU regional representatives who were elected in BCNU's May elections took office and will join in their first provincial council meeting early this month. Best wishes and a warm welcome to the following new members of your provincial council: East Kootenay Chair Helena Barzilay, Fraser Valley Chair Tracey Greenberg, North East Chair Danette Thomsen, RIVA Chair Sara Mattu, South Fraser Valley Co-Chairs Walter Lumamba and Hardev Bhullar and West Kootenay Chair Ron Poland. You can find the contact information for all of BCNU's elected provincial and regional representatives on the BCNU website.

The election of two provincial executive council members was delayed as a result of a process concluded on April 27, 2017 at the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB). The postponement was agreed upon, between the BCNU and a member, in an LRB consent award. The member is challenging the right to participate in the election. That matter is now before an arbitrator and the final timing of the election of those remaining executive positions will be clarified when that arbitration is complete, later this fall. Meanwhile Executive Councillors Adriane Gear and Deb Ducharme still serve in those two executive positions until the election is called.

BCNU's senior leadership team continues to be led by Christine Sorensen, vice president and acting president while Gayle Duteil is on leave. Umar Sheikh, Director of Legal Services and General Counsel, remains as BCNU's Acting Executive Director. Important discussions have been under way over the summer with the new government to ensure that nurses' priority issues are front and centre and clearly understood.

BCNU members in all regions have been actively campaigning for improved security in the Violence - Not Part of the Job campaign over the summer and have secured over 10,000 signatures on postcards calling for better security and training. We anticipate that hundreds, if not thousands more of these cards, will be signed before we deliver the messages directly to BC's new Health Minister Adrian Dix later this fall.

Nearly 70 BCNU members volunteered their time to talk to the public about nursing and health care at our PNE outreach booth this year. BCNU teams are now getting ready for the Run for the Cure and other fall community events. All across BC dozens of BCNU members have been participating in local PRIDE events, community and cultural parades as well as festivals, carrying forward our message that we stand up for health care. In the Interior, BCNU members were actively engaged in supporting wildfire relief centres, as well as caring directly for those who have been impacted by this unprecedented and devastating fire season.

Beginning in October every BCNU region will be holding meetings to talk about nurses' bargaining priorities. Make sure you are connected to your regional executive team so you know when these meetings and other events take place in your region.

Check your eNews, BCNU's website, events calendar and Facebook page for the latest information on upcoming BCNU activities. If you don't yet receive BCNU eNews to your personal email address, please sign onto the member portal on the BCNU website to ensure you get the important union news you will need over the coming months.