Health-care industry feeling the pinch as B.C. nurses head to mediation

The BC Nurses' Union (BCNU) is in mediation with the province, and the ripple effects are being felt across the province's health-care industry.

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) is in mediation with the province, and the ripple effects are being felt across the province’s health-care industry. Their job action began July 2, with a ban still in place on non-essential duties and overtime. Nurses held a rally outside Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital Tuesday, saying they were cautiously optimistic that mediators can help bridge the gap between the union’s 60,000 members and their employer.

Related: B.C. nurses to pause picket lines as mediation begins B.C. premier says mediator has been appointed in nurses’ union dispute But while a resolution may be on the horizon, the impacts of this labour dispute are noticeable. This is especially true in more remote communities, where resources were limited to begin with.

“If you take a patient to Kamloops and they’re having job action or a picket line up there, or the nurses aren’t fully staffed, that adds a significant amount of pressure to an already overtaxed system,” said Ian Tait with the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. Open Gallery 10 items Despite the ban on overtime, the BCNU says it has still approved over 150,000 hours since job action began. “Nearly $25 million on overtime in the last two weeks,” said union president Adriane Gear. “This is overtime just to keep the hospitals staffed.”

All health authorities impacted by job action say they have reallocated staff and resources in order to maintain critical hospital operations.