The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) says it has reached a tentative agreement with the province.
On May 12, the union said its nearly 55,000 members were prepared to take job action if necessary.
At that time, BCNU President Adriane Gear said it was the first time in 25 years that nurses across the province had voted to authorize job action after what they said was a historic 98.2 per cent “yes” vote.
“This tentative agreement was reached because nurses across British Columbia came together and showed they were prepared to fight for meaningful change,” said Gear Friday.
“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. The bargaining committee believes this represents the strongest agreement achievable through negotiations in this round of bargaining.”
Wages, benefits, and working conditions were union members’ main sticking points.
“After months of difficult negotiations and a strike vote, the tentative agreement includes improvements to benefits coverage, access to the enhanced mandate monies in addition to the government’s general wage increase of 12 per cent over four years, workplace safety, violence prevention measures, and other provisions aimed at addressing priorities nurses identified throughout bargaining and improving working conditions across British Columbia,” the union said.
Throughout the process of the vote, Gear and the union have insisted that job action was “the last thing” nurses wanted.
Details of the tentative agreement will be shared with members over the coming days, the BCNU says. The ratification vote will take place from June 15 to 19.
— With files from Charles Brockman
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