Getting Connected
Human connection. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a renewed appreciation of this important need. Today, many of us are looking forward to reconnecting with the world and the people around us again after living with physical distancing for so long.
Organizations, like individuals, also thrive on connection. That's why BCNU is focusing on re-connecting with members at in-person events around the province this summer and fall, from smaller worksite walkabouts to "mini-regional" gatherings with upwards of 400 members.
BCNU President Aman Grewal says union leaders are keen to re-engage with activists and introduce themselves to new members of the union. "We're aiming to give people ample opportunity and time to meet and ask questions of BCNU leaders and discuss important issues," she reports.
Grewal acknowledges that a return to post-COVID "normalcy" will be a gradual process for some members, and it will take time to feel comfortable reconnecting in person. In the meantime, she says the regional events are a great opportunity for members to share their ideas about contract improvements and what's needed to best support BC's nurses ahead of provincial bargaining. BCNU's provincial bargaining strategy conference was postponed earlier this year, following reintroduced COVID-19 public health restrictions and rising cases of the Omicron variant. A re-scheduled conference will take place Oct. 3 to 5 in Vancouver.
- BCNU President
Aman Grewal
"As we prepare for bargaining in the fall, these regional events are icebreaker sessions where members can get to know one another again and discuss the business of the union," states Grewal. "Now, more than ever, it's important for members to re-connect and talk about how we can build safe and healthy workplaces for all."
Grewal says BCNU's member educators have been called on to assist with the summer outreach effort. Member educators are nurses and allied health professionals who are passionate about union activism and social justice, and they work closely with the regional executive teams to engage members through outreach and education.
NU Connections
BCNU South Islands region steward and long-time member educator Eleanor Elston recently began working as a BCNU education officer. She's part of the staff team that's developing a series of new educational resources designed to provide members with quick nuggets of important information.
Entitled "NU Connections," the resources provide up-to-date information on a variety of topics, such as the role of a steward, the steps in job action or the function of worksite joint occupational health and safety committees. All materials have QR codes to the NU Connections web page at www.bcnu.org where members can learn about other topics.
Elston began serving as a member educator over 11 years ago, after she wanted to become more involved in the union. "With every course I taught as an educator, I became more aware of all the employment rights our members hold," she says. "This inspired me to advocate for better working conditions by defending those rights."
Elston says the NU Connections resources are perfect for newer members curious about how to best advocate for themselves and their co-workers.
NU Connections launched in April, with information on job action – a topic the union wants all members to be aware of now that the Nurses' Bargaining Association contract has expired. Regional council members and executive teams met with members one-on-one to explain what job action entails and how it supports the bargaining process.
In May leaders provided information on the role of a steward and the grievance handling process. They also explained the multiple roles BCNU stewards can hold within the union and the differences between them.
Grewal says the opportunity to again meet with members face-to-face has been invaluable.
"These grassroots connections are excellent," she says of the outreach initiative. "Meeting virtually online as we had done through the pandemic sometimes came at the expense of personal connection – and the need for connection is one of the biggest challenges to address now."
- Stasha Sellitti
Wherever she goes, Grewal also reminds members to take the union's Building Union Strength (BUS) course, a one-day workshop designed to familiarise participants about the work of the union and what it means to be an advocate – for self, patients, their families, and communities. Course attendees learn about their rights under their collective agreement, BCNU's commitment to social justice, and how to improve working conditions and relationships in the workplace. They also learn how to grieve a workplace incident and initiate the process with their steward.
North West region council member Teri Forster says the new NU Connections resources could not have come at a better time.
"These materials have been invaluable tools for ensuring we all understand the same issues," she says. "Members at our region's events expressed appreciation for easy-to-access resources they could refer back to after our visits."
The month of June saw BCNU leadership teams travelling around the province promoting "Union 101" – a package of basic information to help members understand the benefits of a collective agreement, and the power to negotiate standardized hours of work, improved job security, access to pensions plans and fair wages.
Royal Columbian Hospital nurse Stasha Sellitti says she enjoyed the mini regional held at her worksite on June 13. In fact, she picked up a shift just so she could attend the event. "I loved coming and having the ability to ask real questions," she reports. Her message to other members? "Go if you're at all interested in the collective bargaining and important information. The ability to meet your stewards, regional council member and others in your regional executive team is so valuable for keeping up to date with information directly from the leaders of the union."
Grewal tells members to keep an eye out for the newly re-branded BCNU campaign bus and two new vans. All are decked out in BCNU's raspberry colours and will be travelling to many of the outreach events.
"You are the union," Grewal reminds members. "And we are ready to connect with you so that, together, we can respond to the current challenges facing health-care workers today."
Visit BCNU's online events calendar to find the most up-to-date events in your region and check the NU Connections page often as resources are updated frequently.
Regional Snapshot: Simon Fraser Mini-Regional
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Members are greeted by regional executive team members. -
RCH members receiving printed BCNU literature. -
Members picking up BCNU swag. -
BCNU's Campaign Bus parked along the curb of Keary Street. -
Members checking in and receiving their meal tickets. -
Members pause for a group photo against BCNU's Campaign Bus. -
The regional executive team greets and checks in RCH members. -
BCNU Simon Fraser region executive team. -
Members queue for their lunch at the White Spot food truck. -
RCH site-steward Frank Martens chats with members during the event. -
Members checking in and receiving their meal tickets. -
Members stocking up on BCNU swag - including the coveted lanyard. -
RCH members receiving BCNU updates and swag. -
RCH members receiving BCNU updates and swag. -
Members queue for their lunch at the White Spot food truck. -
Members receiving lunch from the White Spot food truck. -
RCH members receiving BCNU updates and swag. -
Stasha Sellitti.
On June 13, BCNU members working at New Westminster's Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) were invited to a curbside event a mere feet from their worksite.
This so-called "mini regional" featured four distinct stations set up along the curb of Keary Street. Nurses were first asked to visit the sign-in tent before heading to the second stop, where they were provided with important information and new resources developed for the union's NU Connections initiative. At station three nurses were greeted by BCNU Simon Fraser region stewards and regional executive team members who were free to answer questions. The final station saw a White Spot food truck offering up tasty lunch options.
There's a reason for this model of efficiency. RCH is one of the largest hospitals in the province, and a major regional critical care site providing a range of services with extensive inpatient facilities. That meant organizers had to plan on connecting with more than 400 nurses over a three-and-a-half-hour period.
- Royal Columbian Hospital
steward Frank Martens
Stasha Sellitti works in the RCH cardiac surgical intensive care unit. "I liked the opportunity to ask questions, and obviously the food is nice too," she confesses, "but I really appreciated being able to learn about negotiations, bargaining, and other union activities." Sellitti was one of hundreds of nurses who spent time engaging with union representatives on this day.
RCH steward Frank Martens was one of the BCNU reps on hand to greet members. "Sometimes we take for granted that members know how to contact us, but many don't. So they come with some interesting questions that they may have been too shy to email the team about – thinking their questions are silly," he reports. "But when a steward is right in front of them we can quickly provide an answer. Often their questions aren't as silly as they think and we're able to provide some background and our contact information."
Martens's comments were echoed by other stewards at the event. All agree that, beyond offering a chance to pose questions to stewards and their region's executive team, the event allowed members to put a face to a name. "Later, they'll see us in the hospital, and they know that we're around for them," Martens explains.
More than 430 nurses had passed through the registration booth by the event's conclusion. BCNU Simon Fraser region council members Tristan Newby shared his excitement about the success of the mini regional event format, and the value such occasions provide to members.
"These events allow members to ask questions of the union – important questions that they may otherwise not be able to easily find an answer to," says Newby. "It's also a great opportunity for the union to share with members what's being done on their behalf."•
UPDATE (Summer 2022)
CONNECTING WITH YOU
BCNU leaders in regions across the province are connecting with members at worksite events and sharing important information and resources that matter to working nurses.
Every month will focus on a specific area of importance:
- JULY
Occupational health and safety/joint occupational health and safety committees
- AUGUST
Professional responsibility/patient care assessment process
- SEPTEMBER
Understanding and using different types of leaves
- OCTOBER
Wages and benefits
- NOVEMBER
Bargaining update
- DECEMBER
The right to refuse unsafe work
Watch your BCNU bulletin board at worksites for upcoming topics and take the time to attend these essential events. This is your time to meet and greet your regional executive team, ask questions, hear updates and grab and coffee and chat with colleagues.
Visit BCNU’s online Events Calendar to find the most up-to-date events in your region and check the NU Connections page often as resources are updated frequently.