BC Nurses' Union issues strike notice amid fight for 'meaningful improvements'

The British Columbia Nurses' Union has issued a 72-hour strike notice.

Announced Monday, the move was billed as a "significant escalation in nurses' fight for meaningful improvements to the profession."

Support for job action among members is the highest it's ever been. During a province-wide vote between May 8 and 11, 98.2% sided in favour. A tentative agreement was reached between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and health employers on May 22, but it was rejected by 67% of members.

That agreement set out a plan for improved benefits and shift premiums, nurses argued it "did not go far enough – particularly when it comes to securing a general wage increase that recognizes the vital role nurses play in sustaining a health care system that is operating beyond its limits."

"This is fundamentally a conversation about priorities," BCNU President Adriane Gear said. "Nurses want to know why the health authorities continue to spend millions of dollars on costly short-term staffing solutions, while the nurses who are here for the long-term struggling with workload pressures, unsafe working conditions and staffing shortages are being told the cupboards are empty."

NBA Chief Negotiator and BCNU CEO Jim Gould said job action is "not a step BC nurses want to take," but that they will "have no choice" if the employer fails to come to the table with a better offer.

A strike could be called as early as Thursday.