Ready to Roll

BC’s nurses are ready to fight for what is theirs

The readiness is all.

After months of member surveys, six regional bargaining conferences across the province’s health authorities, a virtual human rights and equity bargaining conference, and informational town hall events, members of the newly elected Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) provincial bargaining committee stood on the stage at the union’s final provincial bar- gaining conference in downtown Vancouver, looking steadfastly at the members gathered before them.

“We are strong and committed in the fight to defend what is ours,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear. “These preparations have shown one thing: nurses are united in our resolve for a contract that respects us as professionals.”

The two-day conference, held on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, gathered hundreds of delegates to identify the priorities their bargaining team will fight for in upcoming NBA contract negotiations. The event marked the exciting conclusion to an intense round of preparations – perhaps the most extensive in BCNU’s history.

Interim Executive Councillor of Occupational Health and Safety and Mental Health Denise Waurynchuk described the preparations in relatable terms.

“Over 13 conference days and more than 125 hours, members have come together to work out a plan,” she said. “It took just under 10,000 cups of coffee to fuel these 1,709 total attendees. We handed out 950-plus rally signs. Staff held over 87 meetings to get the job done.”

This preparatory phase brought together members across BC, representing nurses in all areas of the province and practice specialties to paint a complete picture of what NBA members need to see in their next contract.

It is no wonder that the union put such an intense emphasis on preparations for this next round of bargaining. The 2022-2025 NBA provincial collective agreement, which expired in March of this year, saw members gain the best nurses’ wages and benefits in the country.

The high-water mark achieved in the 2022-2025 contract will serve as inspiration in this next round. However, global uncertainty brought on by a potential trade war with the US, high budget deficits following the COVID- 19 pandemic and competition with the multiple other public sector contracts expiring this year, will make the task extremely difficult.

That’s why BCNU’s CEO and lead negotiator Jim Gould wants members to stay involved, informed and ready as the union heads into bargaining.

“The last round was a ‘unicorn’ with 25 to 42 percent monetary increases,” said Gould at the beginning of the conference. “If nurses in this province exercise their power – and you’ve got tonnes – we can do almost anything. But you’re going to have to be ready to fight.”

Gould went on to outline the eco- nomic context that may make this round of bargaining especially challenging. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government tabled a succession of significant budget deficits, the most recent exceeding $10 billion. He said that with the threat of US tariffs on Canadian goods, economists project a potential loss of $69 billion of eco- nomic activity between 2025-2028. And while the outcome of a US trade war is unknown, the province is moving into an era of fiscal constraint, uncertainty and heightened risk.

“We are strong and committed in the fight to defend what is ours.”

- BCNU President Adriane Gear

Despite these challenges, Gould reminded delegates that they still have good reasons to be optimistic. This year’s bargaining preparations have shown a marked uptick in the number of new members getting involved and saw longer-standing members participating for the first time. Over 70 percent of members at the regional bargaining conferences were first- time participants. When Gould asked the assembled members if this was their first time at a provincial bargaining conference, significant numbers of hands went up, showing that the increase in new member engagement and investment in the bargaining process carried through to this final step of the pre-bargaining phase.

Gould also pointed to the results from the member bargaining survey showing the initial impact of wage increases negotiated in the last round. Positive signs are beginning to emerge, he said, including reductions in the number of members reporting major problems with workload and incidents of working below baseline staffing.

Fewer members reported regularly risking their nursing license due to low staffing in this round compared to the previous bargaining survey. Adverse outcomes for patients also declined slightly compared to previous years – a slight shift but in the right direction.

(To see more trends from the bargaining survey, go to Vital Signs )

Finally, Gould reminded delegates that if bargaining reaches an impasse and members need to take job action, the public will be overwhelmingly on nurses’ side. BCNU’s research on the public’s opinion on nurses and the nursing profession reveals that support for nurses has reached an all-time high. Following BCNU’s holiday advertising campaigns in 2023 and 2024, some 88 percent of polled viewers said they would support nurses in their negotiations – an increase from earlier polling in 2021, which found an already-high 82 percent of members of the public sharing their support for nurses. Gould noted these public perceptions can play an extremely powerful role in negotiations, as the union can tap public support to pressure the government into giving nurses the contract they need.

“Voters terrify the government,” said Gould. “The powers that be in British Columbia don’t believe that any government can withstand a hardcore BCNU NBA strike.”

The next item on the conference agenda made it clear that positive public opinions are not the only resource BC nurses can draw on. They also have tremendous support from other nursing unions across the country who have a vested interest in the outcome of this round of negotiations.

Canada’s Nurses Unions: We’re Behind You

Following Gould’s presentation, Gear welcomed Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) President Linda Silas, Manitoba Nurses Union President Darlene Jackson, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union President Janet Hazelton and New Brunswick Nurses Union President Paula Doucet for an in-depth panel discussion on bargaining strategies.

Much of the panel focused on the importance of members maintaining their current health and dental benefits through negotiations. Unlike most nurses in Canada, health employers in BC pay 100 percent of the cost of NBA members’ health and dental benefits.

In this upcoming round, the union strongly suspects government negotiators will pressure BCNU to enter into a joint benefits trust. Moving away from full employer coverage of benefits would almost certainly increase costs for members and force them to share liability for any shortfalls that could develop in the trust.

If nurses in this province exercise their power – and you’ve got tonnes – we can do almost anything.”

- BCNU CEO Jim Gould

The panelists spelled out the risks of entering a joint benefits trust in stark terms.

“If there’s one thing I could change, we’d never join a joint benefits trust,” said Jackson. “Nurses in Manitoba are so unhappy with our benefits. I urge you to do whatever you can to stay where you are and don’t let them roll you back.”

“We are watching what happens in BC very closely,” said Doucet. “Do not give up what you have. People fought for what you have today; it’s your job to hang onto that.”

Panelists also applauded BC nurses’ trailblazing work to implement mini- mum nurse-to-patient ratios and other inspiring ideas they have fought for.

“You push the banner ahead for all of us,” said Silas. “Who else has DEI language in their agreement? No one. I can’t wait to be invited to your ratification meeting and look back and see what you’ve done.”

Delegates had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions at the end of the discussion. Many were curious about how to support bargaining efforts now that the first phase of the member consultation period has ended. Panelists pointed to the imperative to support and uplift their bargaining team.

Hazelton reminded delegates to give their bargaining committee grace. “Be kind,” she said. “Sometimes our bar- gaining teams take a hell of a beating out there. They are doing the best they can for you. You know what it’s like when a patient takes it out on you.”

The panel wrapped up by stressing the importance for members to stay informed and engaged with the union so they will be ready to fight if negotiations reach an impasse.
“Support your team, go to the right source of information and show up,” said Doucet.

Hazelton put it simply:

“If you go on strike, we’ll be here.”

Candidates Take the Stage

Day one of the bargaining conference ended on a high note, as over 70 members with diverse nursing experience from across the province put forward their candidacy for positions on the NBA Provincial Bargaining Committee and Provincial Job Action Committee (PJAC).

Seven spots were open on the Bargaining Committee, representing large, medium and small acute care facilities, long-term care and community care. Committee members serve with representatives from the other NBA constituent unions, including the Hospital Employees’ Union, Health Sciences Association and BC General Employees’ Union.

The PJAC elections held seats for representatives from long term care, acute care and community care and two seats for members-at-large.

Candidates for both committees each had just over a minute to make their case for election to a position. All spoke about their nursing experiences and the concerns they wanted to fight for in bargaining. They highlighted their organizing experience and their readiness to fight if job action became necessary. Some members had been nursing for years and had considerable union experience, while some new nurses put their names forward for the first time.

Following an open forum with Gould and Gear, day one of the conference concluded with an opportunity for delegates to chat with candidates. 

A Demonstration of Readiness

Day two of the conference started in high spirits. BCNU Provincial Treasurer Sharon Sponton took to the stage to deliver a presentation on the state of job action planning ahead of bargaining. Sponton laid out the plan for job action should bargaining reach an impasse, informing members about their roles and how they can best support the bargaining team.

Sponton emphasized that every member should prepare for potential job action ahead of time. She noted that BCNU has prepared two education modules members can access through the BCNU Member Portal. The first educates members on the plan for bargaining, offering insights into the process for those who haven’t been through a round of contract negotiations before. The second module focuses on job action, with a detailed description of what job action looks like, how members can coordinate and help the bargaining team and some information on the forms members will need in the event of job action.

(To read more information on the bargaining process, go to the infographic below.  ) Sponton reminded delegates that, while job action isn’t inevitable, they can rely on their fellow members, their peers from across Canada and other union activists if bargaining does reach an impasse. She also reminded members of the need to stay united in the event of job action.

“Stay together, stay united, stay positive,” said Sponton. “We’re in this together.”

Sponton’s message of unity set a positive and rousing note, inspiring members to get up from their seats and take to the streets.

Stay together, stay united, stay positive. We’re in this together.”

- BCNU Provincial Treasurer Sharon Sponton

With representatives from Canada’s nursing unions and BCNU’s elected leaders at the head, members walked out of the bargaining conference mid- day to demonstrate their readiness and resolve ahead of the next steps in bargaining their contract. Delegates marched from the Hyatt Hotel, stopping traffic at the Burrard St. and Georgia St. intersection before proceeding to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

As they walked through the streets, members of the public cheered from the sidewalks while car horns rang out from traffic. The rally culminated on the gallery steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, where Silas and Gear spoke to the assembled crowd. Many members of the public stopped to watch the speech and share their support with the gathered delegates. The rally culminated in a rousing round of chanting, with BCNU Vice President Tristan Newby leading the way, shouting “So so so, solidarity!” before disbursing the crowd.

COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Delegates returned to the hotel following the rally to hear the results of the Bargaining Committee and PJAC elections. Sponton called the elected Bargaining Committee members and PJAC members to the stage. Gear, Gould and Sponton all thanked all delegates who ran for a role and congratulated the elected committee members.

A CALL TO ACTION

Following the committee elections, Gear began her closing remarks by reminding members to take the education modules on the BCNU Member Portal. She also stressed the imperative for all members to stay informed and up to date as bargaining proceeds by seeking out legitimate sources of information, such as union eNews updates, the BCNU website and Update Magazine. Gear also reminded participants of the importance of investing trust in the bargaining committee and being supportive.

She renewed the union’s commitment to communicating early, often and strategically with members as it engages in bargaining.

Finally, Gear concluded the conference with a challenge for all members.

“There may come a day when our bargaining committee asks for a strike vote,” she said. “When that day comes, we’ll want 100 percent participation and 100 percent support. Why? Because unity in job action is power.” •

The Road Ahead

Get to know the bargaining process. Here are the phases of bargaining, from early preparations to job action to getting ready to vote on a contract.