LPNs face choice of negotiating in ‘parched landscape' at HEU/BCGEU or joining BCNU's bargaining strength
Recent reductions in health funding by the provincial government has led to a restructuring of health services at FHA and the elimination of nursing positions at multiple facilities. But layoffs at the FHA were quickly turned into career opportunities for nurses represented by BCNU.
"The nursing shortage means BC can't afford to lose one nurse," says BCNU president Debra McPherson. "When nursing careers are disrupted by restructuring it's imperative we keep everyone working or the provincial shortage will only escalate. We seized the cutbacks at FHA and turned them into new opportunities for our members."
A new memorandum of agreement with FHA will ensure there are no involuntary nurse layoffs. Highlights of the arrangement are:
- Job fairs will be held at facilities impacted by restructuring and nurses affected by layoffs will have the opportunity to bid on all worksite vacancies through an expedited job selection process
- Affected nurses will be able to bid on specialty vacancies and receive education funding to be trained in areas such as ER, OR, ICU and perinatology. Normally, nurses can apply for vacancies only in positions for which they are already qualified.
BCNU's new FHA agreement contrasts with the bleak view of some other healthcare unions who expect to gain little for their members in 2010 negotiations. On September 14, 2009 BCGEU President Darryl Walker said in a letter to BCNU that public sector workers can expect "a dry, parched landscape for bargaining across the board in BC."
BCNU's bargaining approach has been consistently strategic and successful. Regardless of the recent tough economic climate, BCNU has made gains for members. While other healthcare workers face Darryl Walker's "parched landscape", BCNU opened early talks with the government and negotiated a two year extension to the provincial nurses' agreement with across the board wage increases. HEU's Judy Darcy could have opted to begin early bargaining for nurses but chose not to do so.
In addition to BCNU's successful wage increase and contract extension the just- announced FHA agreement turned potential layoffs into career opportunities for BCNU represented nurses.
LPNs are currently deciding if they want to remain at HEU/BCGEU or join the BC Nurses' Union's successful approach to bargaining that has consistently enhanced the wages and working conditions of BCNU members.
LPNs can register for full BCNU membership.
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