The union that represents B.C. nurses has agreed to a tentative new contract in what’s being touted as a historic deal.
“The terms of the settlement include record-setting compensation for BC’s nurses,” union staff said in a release.
“Negotiators also reached a groundbreaking commitment from the provincial government to support mandatory nurse-patient ratios.”
The Nurses’ Union Bargaining Association took the position that it would not accept a single concession from health employers during the contract negotiation process and said it’s proud to have delivered on that promise.
The union’s bargaining association said Friday night it had reached a tentative three-year agreement with the province’s Health Employers Association of B.C., that it will be bringing before its members.
The B.C. Nurses’ Union was the last major public sector union to strike a new deal with the province.
This follows months of negotiations between the two sides.
A ratification vote will begin on April 20, as the union will be having a meeting with its members first.
The province’s Health Employers Association issued a separate statement saying the contract includes an agreement on unspecified policy-based initiatives as part of its health human resource strategy, which it previously said will optimize the health system, expand training and improve recruitment and retention within the field.
— with files from Canadian Press