The association bargaining for nurses in B.C. has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government on a new contract.
The tentative deal was reached on Friday night (March 31) between the Health Employers Association and the Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA), which represents approximately 51,500 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in B.C. The majority of the nurses in the NBA are represented by the BC Nurses' Union, and by the Health Sciences Association, the Union of Psychiatric Nurses, the Hospital Employees' Union and the British Columbia General Employees' Union. Nurses work predominantly in hospitals, but also in long-term care, community and public health, home support and mental health throughout the province.
The tentative deal, which will be voted upon by nurses, was reached under the provincial government’s shared recovery mandate, which aims to improve public services and the health-care system, while supporting economic recovery.
Specific details about the agreement will be available after the ratification process is completed by the employees. However, deals reached under the shared recovery mandate have included:
• Year 1: a flat wage increase of 25 cents per hour, which provides a greater percentage increase for lower-tier rates, plus 3.24 per cent;
• Year 2: 5.5 per cent wage hike, plus a potential cost-of-living adjustment to a maximum of 6.75 percent;
• Year 3: Two per cent wage hike, plus a potential cost-of-living adjustment to a maximum of three per cent.
