Leaders from All Three Parties Promise to Advocate for Violence-Free Workplaces for Nurses

With the election campaign in full swing, the BC Nurses' Union is reaching out to all candidates, from all parties, asking them to sign a pledge to promote violence-free workplaces for nurses.

So far, dozens have lent their signatures to the cause, including Liberal leader, Christy Clark, NDP leader, John Horgan and Greens leader, Andrew Weaver.

"We are pleased to see the three leaders, and candidates from around the province, standing up for nurses' safety," says BCNU president Gayle Duteil. "While we continue to collect signatures and support, there are still many candidates who have yet to tell nurses that if elected to the BC legislature, they will make it a priority to ensure the safety of patient care and the nurses providing it."

In addition to reducing the risk of violence at health care facilities, the pledge also asks candidates to ensure there are enough nurses at all times to manage care safely, establish security and Code White standards that protect nurses from aggression and provide properly trained security, 24/7.

"Workplace violence has been steadily rising for over a decade," says Duteil. "Security staff at hospital ERs and psychiatric units is often poorly trained and hands-off during incidents. At the same time, the constant state of under-staffing at facilities running at over-capacity also raises the risk of violence."

BCNU is also asking candidates to support a modification of the Criminal Code of Canada to make violence against a nurse an "aggravated circumstance" for sentencing purposes, as it is already for transit operators.

"The judicial system often goes too easy on people who have caused serious injury during care," says Duteil. "This has been a main focus of our anti-violence campaign since the beginning."

And what is Duteil's message to those who haven't signed the pledge yet?

"Remember, nurses' vote and their vote counts. Whoever wins on May 9th needs to make their safety a priority."

For more information, please contact Katharine Kitts, BCNU Communications at 604.220.9815 or kkitts@bcnu.org.