On March 11, 2010 the BC Labour Board issued another decision on BCNU's application to represent LPNs by ordering a partial payroll audit and other measures to determine the number of LPNs working in various health regions.
The Board's March 11 decision has several components:
- In Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health a full payroll audit will determine the number of LPNs eligible to cast ballots in a representational vote, and if BCNU has met the necessary threshold of LPN support to hold a vote
- Across the province Industrial Relations Officers will also investigate the extent to which LPNs who work as casuals are double-counted.
Although the Board only ordered a full audit in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health at this time, nothing precludes them from ordering a payroll audit in other health authorities in the future.
The audit may take some time to complete. If it determines a majority of LPNs signed BCNU membership cards, the law provides for a representational vote for LPNs to decide which union will represent them — BCNU or HEU.
The number of LPNs interested in BCNU membership continues to grow because of recent HEU and BCGEU collective agreements. LPNs who did not sign BCNU memberships, and would now like information in the event of a membership vote, can send us their contact information:
- by phone: call the BCNU Organizing Department at 1.800.663.9991 Local 2602
- by email: send your name, address, telephone number and work location to associate@bcnu.org
HEU's March 5, 2010 submission to the Labour Board opposed conducting a payroll audit. Similarly, HEU's
December 8, 2009 submission opposed a vote entirely by saying LPNs are not an independent professional classification within HEU and they have no legal right to leave HEU's wider membership.
