B.C. nurses to end job action after accepting mediators’ recommendations

Union says all job action will cease at midnight Friday as its members review the offer

The union representing 55,000 nurses in B.C. says weeks of job action will end late Friday after its bargaining association accepted recommendations from provincially-appointed mediators.

The Nurses’ Bargaining Association said all job action will end at midnight, stating that the recommendations from mediators Amanda Rogers and Vince Ready address some of the major concerns nurses had, including workplace violence.

“This has been the longest nurses’ strike in B.C.’s history, and it was the collective strength, determination and solidarity of more than 55,000 nurses that brought us to this point,” B.C. Nurses’ Union president Adriane Gear said in a statement.

“Our members changed the conversation by forcing government and health employers to confront the realities of nursing and the challenges facing our public health-care system.”

Striking B.C. nurses to suspend picket lines amid mediated talks

Nurses launched job action at the start of the month with a province-wide ban on non-nursing duties and non-essential overtime.

They subsequently added picket lines at Vancouver General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital and multiple hospitals on Vancouver Island.

Striking B.C. nurses expand picket lines to Vancouver Island

The picket lines were suspended last week as a sign of good faith after mediation resumed. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside appointed Ready and Rogers as special mediators on July 10 and gave them 10 days to work with the union and the Health Employers Association of B.C.

Ready has previously been called in to help resolve several major labour disputes in the province.

The bargaining association said the mediators’ recommendations have been sent to members for review while outstanding issues on compensation are anticipated to move to binding arbitration this fall.

In a statement, the province said all parties have accepted recommendations to continue working on issues such as workplace safety and reviewing nursing duties.

B.C. Nurses' Union raises concerns over 'intimidation, retaliation' from employers as mediation continues

It said the two mediators will continue working with the parties over the coming months to prepare for the arbitration process.

"The Province recognizes nurses for all that they do, and we know this has been a very challenging situation for everyone – patients, nurses, and everyone working in the health care sector," the statement read.

No details of the recommendations have been released.