Long-Service Pay Increase Application Update

October 30, 2023

An Add Pay Application Eligibility form and Add Pay Denial Appeals form are now available on the BCNU Member Portal.

Many members covered under the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) collective agreement who have reached 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-year milestones in their career are now eligible for long-service pay rates (also known as “Add Pay”) based on seniority date (regular employees) or seniority hours (casual employees).

On October 5, 2023, BCNU published a member bulletin regarding Add Pay advising members who believe their employer has not recognized their full previous nursing experience to submit a one-time application for Add Pay. The bulletin notes that the following nurses can now submit an application form to their employer requesting that their current Add Pay rate be amended to recognize both their experience and their seniority:

existing RNs/RPNs who initially joined the NBA as LPNs on or after the first full pay period following May 11, 2016; and,
all existing nurses (RNs/RPNs/LPNs) hired under the NBA provincial collective agreement since October 1, 2013, who at the time of their hire did not have existing seniority and were deemed eligible by the employer for recognition of relevant nursing experience under Article 52 or Article 11.04(F)(2)(C).*

Members who have met the criteria above but who have not been provided an Add Pay application form by their employer or are unable to access an application form, should reach out to their employer to request an application form. Application forms must be submitted by Dec. 31. Applications will not be considered after this date. Members who are denied an application form should contact a BCNU steward for support.

Members who do not meet the criteria above – such as nurses from outside BC hired prior to Oct. 1, 2013 who would be deemed eligible by their employer for recognition of relevant nursing experience under Article 52 or Article 11.04(F)(2)(C) if they were hired today – should visit the BCNU Member Portal and complete the union’s Add Pay Application Eligibility form.

Please note that employers will make a decision on each application no later than March 31, 2024. Members whose applications have been denied, or who disagree with the rationale for denial, and who would like to appeal the decision, should visit the BCNU Member Portal and complete the union’s Add Pay Denial Appeals form.

*For more information on Add Pay and BCNU’s final interpretation of the contract language in article 52 and article 11.04(F)(2)(C) of the collective agreement, please see the BCNU bulletins issued on Oct. 5 and May 30.