Letter to Members on Staff Job Action

Dear Members,

You may be aware that the staff of the BC Nurses' Union are on strike. We believe one union is on an illegal strike.  This does sound odd, another union striking a union. But the BCNU is the employer of over 150 staff members who belong to two different unions with two separate collective agreements. Despite the fact many staff have come from the BCNU membership, once hired they move to a different contract under a separate union.

Move Up is the union representing staff such as receptionists, mail clerks, and administrative support workers. Unifor is the union representing labour relations officers and other staff such as educators and occupational health and safety representatives.

First, I know that our staff work hard on your behalf in a variety of departments. I am honoured to be a part of such a great team and I rely on them in countless ways. I, along with you, miss interacting with our staff.

For the exceptional job they do, staff are very well compensated, as am I.

A few examples of what our staff currently receive are:

1. Under the Move Up contract, the receptionist, who answers the telephone and greets visitors, earns $29.81 per hour at the end of 12 months. An LPN, after 12 months, earns $26.79 per hour.
2. A brand new full-time Unifor employee is eligible for eight (8) weeks of paid time off a year - four weeks of vacation and four weeks of lieu time. Lieu time was originally bargained over twenty-five years ago as compensation for work done beyond regular hours. But now overtime is in the contract as well. In 2015, Unifor overtime amounted to $358,607. This is in addition to the 20 days of paid lieu time.
3. All full-time Unifor staff receive $550.00 per month in car allowance plus their gas is paid for as well, even if they don't use the vehicle for work.
4. All staff receive 100% employer paid health and welfare benefits which is appropriate. These benefits do not include pharmacare tie-in or even Blue Rx. Unlike nurses, staff remain on an unlimited drug formulary. Unifor staff also continue these benefits into retirement for the duration of their life. Move Up staff have proposed full retirement benefits to be entirely paid for by the BCNU.
5. All staff work a 35 hour work week.

Your council has been challenged over the past few weeks by staff and other union members supporting the picket line. "Where are your values Gayle Duteil?" is a hot question on social media.

Of the seven core values of the BCNU, I am relying on equality. The staff of the BCNU already receive many benefits which the hard working nurses of BC do not receive.  Past staff bargaining teams have been successful in a number of ways, but there comes a time when one must stop and consider adjustments.

This is that time.

The leadership of the BCNU is united in our fiduciary responsibility, protecting your dues. I know that many of you have worked last Christmas Eve, this past long weekend, nights and weekends when you have not been home with your family. And I know that the dues you pay deserve respect and value when it comes to negotiating increases and changes with staff contracts. Equality with the nurses' contract will be the guiding principle in this set of negotiations.

At the end of this dispute, one way or another, there will be a collective agreement with both our staff unions and we will move forward together, standing up for healthcare. And I am encouraged as Move Up and BCNU have returned to the bargaining table as of today.

Please take the time to review the current contracts of our staff.

Move Up Collective Agreement
Unifor Collective Agreement

Although difficult at times, especially during highly charged, emotional staff negotiations, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to you, our members - that is: strong and fair stewardship of the dues you pay.

Please don't hesitate to contact myself, Lorne Burkart, Chair of the BCNU personnel committee, any member of the Provincial Executive, your council chair, or Gary Fane, Executive Director, should you have any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Gayle Duteil
BCNU President