BCNU president to speak at Royal Jubilee before remaining picket lines come down

BC Nurses' Union president Adriane Gear is expected to address nurses at Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital Tuesday morning as mediated contract talks between the union and health employers continue. The post BCNU president to speak at Royal Jubilee before remaining picket lines come down appeared first on CHEK .

BC Nurses’ Union president Adriane Gear is expected to address nurses at Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital Tuesday morning as mediated contract talks between the union and health employers continue. The appearance comes ahead of the union’s planned removal of its remaining picket lines Tuesday evening, a move the BCNU says reflects its commitment to good faith bargaining while negotiations continue between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). Gear is expected to thank nurses, labour allies, health-care colleagues and members of the public for their support throughout the union’s recent job action, according to a news release from BCNU.

The union says that that while picket lines ending, it remains focused on securing a new collective agreement that addresses longstanding concerns over staffing shortages, workplace safety, workloads and compensation. The Royal Jubilee visit follows Monday’s announcement that the union would remove its remaining picket lines at 9 p.m. Tuesday after veteran mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers were appointed to help resolve the labour dispute. The BCNU has said it is entering mediation with “cautious optimism,” but maintains there is significant work remaining before a deal can be reached.

A province-wide ban on non-nursing duties and restrictions on overtime remain in effect while negotiations continue. The dispute escalated after union members rejected a tentative agreement reached in May, saying it failed to meaningfully address the challenges nurses face across B.C.’s health-care system. The BC Nurses’ Union represents approximately 60,000 nurses across the province.

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