The union representing nurses in British Columbia says it will put up pickets around the province’s largest hospital starting next week as it escalates its strike.
BC Nurses’ Union says in a statement it will picket Vancouver General Hospital on Tuesday, five days after members voted in favour of a strike.
The union says it will maintain essential services to protect patient safety, but continue its provincewide refusal of all non-essential overtime hours and non-nursing duties.
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Union president Adriane Gear says nurses don’t want to be on the picket line, but adds the provincial government can no longer ignore the demands of the health-care system.
The announcement from the union comes after 98.2 per cent of almost 51,000 nurses voted in favour of job actions and after 67 per cent members of rejected a tentative agreement.
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Jim Gould, who is the union’s chief executive officer, says it’s up to the provincial government to come to the table with an offer that respects nurses.
“This government is not going to solve the nursing shortage without making serious improvements to nurses’ working conditions,” he says.
It SHOULD BE illegal for UNIONS to always increase OUR COST OF LIVING because where do they get the money from to pay for the increase for ALL the workers not just the ones who REALLY DESERVE THEM? TAXPAYERS and none UNION members, that is where. How dare they increase my cost of living when I refuse to bow to their threats and demands. Someone needs to figure this out once and for all time.
It would be nice to have a mix of public and private health care systems in Canada like most other countries. It creates competition for the best treatment at the lowest cost. With Canada’s government-only health system nobody cares about the patients, they only care about filling their pockets with money.
I was recently admitted to Langley Memorial Hospital for a health matter . I remained for four days and on the outset the Doctors did a good job addressing my health issues. While I was admitted the nursing staff did a pretty good job , however at night or even during the day I could overhear their conversation about shifts , people calling in sick, others glad that the got overtime hours. Arguing about who got one shift over another . Some of them were complaining or so deep in their conversations they neglected patients. I hope to God I never end up in the hospital again, or I will treat myself if possible.
The greedy politicians, government needs to adddress the concerns not only health care providers, but others in need of help.
I will consider supporting the nurses when they stop their concerted efforts to amass as much OT as possible by calling in sick and having another ‘cover’ their shift for double + time. Then…..the favour is returned…..and ’round it goes…..bilking the system out of massive amounts of money that the taxpayer can ill-afford.
All participating “health care”workers should be terminated on the spot and have their licenses revoked.I quit nursing .I was disgusted with the profession because of how patients were being treated.We need to put the focus on patient care,proper care.
Going to have another tantrum are they
The nurses should join the teachers union, they get everything they ask for.
Right, so if you are having a heart attack, support the union by not crossing the picket line. :) lol