BC Nurses Union President Adrienne Gear is travelling across the province talking to nursing staff about what they would like to see improved in their next contract.
The current deal expires in March of 2025 and Gear is holding a series of regional conferences with all health authorities, which began in Penticton this week with upwards of 400 Interior Health members present.
Gear told Vista Radio with nurses speaking up on what is most impacting their jobs, it’s key to take the time and listen what challenges exist in each health region.
“Nurses have solutions and that is also a theme because we take away so often that decisions are made without including the people who are actually doing the work and has the expertise and the subject matter to influence positive change.”
“Nurses are still reporting being exposed to illicit substances in the workplace and violence is a concern along with fatigue. It feels like the employer is not valuing the safety of nurses with the point being made this would not be tolerated in any other profession.”
She added while lots of progress was made on wages, premiums as well as recruit and retention incentives – there are other areas of the job that need to be shored up.
“I think nurses recognize that we did make some substantial gains in our last round of collective bargaining – however, there is still so much more to do including implementation. There is a lot of excitement about nurse-to-patient ratios but there is concern on the current working conditions.”
“We want to make things better not only for the conditions that work for nurses but also care conditions for patients.”
Gear also stated there are too many cases where nurses are being shuttled around various departments.
“Nurses are constantly being re-assigned and redeployed to areas they aren’t necessarily credentialed to work in – really breaking down that sense about being part of a team or a workplace and being treated that you are just dispensable.”
Gear will meet with Northern Health staff on January 23rd and 24th in Vancouver – exactly one month before the bargaining conference is held in the same city.
A rally is being held today (Tuesday) in Penticton at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
“Temporary emergency room closures have plagued hospitals across this region, including in Merritt, 100 Mile House, Lillooet, Williams Lake and Oliver, and patients are the ones who are suffering,” added Gear.
“The nurses here today are steadfast in their demand for employer-level improvements in health and safety and want to see action to address systemic staffing challenges.”
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