More than 50,000 nurses across British Columbia may soon have a new collective agreement after the Nurses’ Bargaining Association reached a tentative deal with provincial health employers following months of negotiations and a record strike vote mandate.
The agreement between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of B.C. was announced Thursday, with the union’s provincial bargaining committee unanimously recommending ratification.
The tentative deal comes after nurses voted 98.2% in favour of strike action earlier this year, a result the union says strengthened its bargaining position at the negotiating table.
“This tentative agreement was reached because nurses across British Columbia came together and showed they were prepared to fight for meaningful change,” said BC Nurses’ Union president Adriane Gear.
“The record strike mandate shifted the balance of power at the bargaining table and gave the committee the leverage to push harder, stay at the table longer, and secure meaningful gains for nurses across the province.”
While full details of the agreement have not yet been released, the union says the tentative contract includes improvements to benefits coverage, workplace safety and violence prevention measures, along with access to enhanced mandate funding in addition to the Province’s general wage increase of 12% over four years.
The agreement also includes a separate deal with the Ministry of Health to secure additional funding aimed at continuing implementation of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios throughout B.C.’s healthcare system.
BCNU CEO and chief negotiator Jim Gould said member solidarity played a key role in securing the tentative agreement.
“Members drove this process from start to finish,” Gould said. “Their solidarity and collective action strengthened our position at the table and helped secure meaningful gains for members across the province.”
The Nurses’ Bargaining Association represents more than 60,000 nurses working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health and public health settings across British Columbia.
Union members are expected to receive detailed ratification materials in the coming days before voting on the tentative agreement between June 15 and June 19.
