Because thousands of LPNs have registered for BCNU membership, HEU and BCGEU are trying to trick LPNs into staying in their unions by circulating untruthful statements.
This highlights the choice LPNs face, and shows why HEU and
BCGEU are incapable of giving LPNs the professionalism they
deserve.
Fiction #1
On September 21, HEU’s Judy Darcy sent LPNs a letter saying "RNs could use their seniority to bump LPNs but not vice versa."
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Fact
RNs are not licensed to work as LPNs so they have no legal right to bump LPNs. RNs can only bump RNs and HEU knows this.
On September 29, HEU sent Fraser Health LPNs emails saying "Fraser Health RN layoffs will not impact seniority rights of HEU LPNs." Why does HEU spread false information to LPNs across the province then tell the truth only to some LPNs in Fraser Health when they fear bumping?
There are about 2,000 RN vacancies in BC. No RN would take an annual pay cut of between $8,000.00 and $25,000.00 to bump an LPN.
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Fiction #2
"LPNs would be on their own at the bargaining table without support from HEU's membership – or BCNU’s RNs." |
Fact
"Support from HEU"s membership" got LPNs a 15% pay cut in 2004. In 2006, LPNs got a four year raise of only 15% when HEU represented trades got an increase of 32%. Where was HEU solidarity then? Considering inflation, LPNs are making less money now than they were in 2004.
No one is saying trades shouldn’t get a good raise, but LPNs deserve one too. BCNU doesn't make bargaining concessions for nurses. LPNs will find nursing solidarity at BCNU more profitable than wage cuts at HEU.
HEU and Judy Darcy are making brave statements about getting LPNs a "market adjustment" raise in 2010 bargaining. In 2010 HEU will be busy trying to save non-nursing HEU jobs from being outsourced rather than bargaining gains for LPNs.
LPNs will make more professional and financial gains with BCNU. Nurses have the bargaining strength to deliver progress – our two year contract extension with raises proves it.
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Fiction #3
"LPNs and RNs have different professional interests and should be represented by separate unions." |
Fact
HEU doesn’t understand nursing. LPNs, RNs, RPNs, and Nurse Practitioners are all professionals licensed by their colleges. They work side by side caring for patients every day.
Truly collaborative practices can only be built when all nurses join the same union – bargaining together, learning together and caring for patients together
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Fiction #4
"BCNU has failed to achieve their goal" of signing up a majority of LPNs as associate members. |
Fact
Thousands of LPNs from all over BC have said they want a better future and have registered as BCNU members. We’re proud that so many nurses have given us their confidence
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Fiction #5
"We now expect [BCNU] to . . . file for individual sites, instead of making a province-wide application" for bargaining rights for LPNs." |
Fact
LPNs from all over BC have registered for BCNU membership. BCNU will make a province-wide application to represent all LPNs.
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Fiction #6
"HEU will ensure that LPNs’ professional practice issues are protected and don’t take a back seat to RNs." |
Fact
HEU has a poor understanding of nursing issues and the professional development of nurses. If HEU did understand, then thousands of LPNs would not be signing up with BCNU.
One of the primary reasons so many LPNs want to join BCNU is because we do a great job developing nursing careers and supporting professional issues in workplaces. There's no back seat for any member at BCNU. |
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