Our national nurses' organization continues to welcome BCNU participation in all CFNU activities as a "non-voting member"

With BCNU continuing to uphold nurses' right to choose which union they'll join, the Canadian Labour Congress has reinforced its opposition to free choice for workers by demanding sanctions against our union by our national affiliate, the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions.

In response, the CFNU executive today took action against BCNU under the CFNU constitution. They decided to remove BCNU's right to vote at all CFNU meetings. At the same time, CFNU made clear that it welcomes BCNU to continue to participate in all CFNU activities and deliberations as a non-voting member. CFNU says BCNU's voting rights will remain suspended until BCNU ends its campaign to organize LPNs who currently belong to other unions affiliated to the CLC.

The renewed pressure on CFNU from other unions in the CLC came after BCNU Convention delegates voted March 4 to continue the campaign to give LPNs a choice on whether they want to join BCNU in one union of nursing professionals.

BCNU's application for representation votes for LPNs is currently before the BC Labour Relations Board (see bulletin March 23). More than 3,000 LPNs signed BCNU membership cards between September 1 and November 30, 2009.

At a special meeting today, BCNU Council agreed the union will continue participating in
CFNU activities. But to protect our financial position into the future, Council moved to give CFNU one-year's notice of intent to withdraw and stop paying dues to the organization, as required by the CFNU constitution.

The notice to withdraw is pending further Council discussion as events unfold. The notice to CFNU can be withdrawn at any time. No final decision on withdrawing from CFNU would be made without a decision by the BCNU Convention. If you have questions, please contact your regional chair or other member of your regional executive.