The deal still must be ratified by the members of the nurses’ union, after a historically overwhelming vote in favour of strike action.
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The B.C. government and the union representing the province’s nurses have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, after an overwhelming 98.2 per cent of B.C. nurses voted in favour of a potential job action.
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The Health Employers Association and Nurses’ Bargaining Association found the funds to support service delivery and improve working conditions for nurses, and the agreement will now go to union members for ratification during a vote from June 15-19.
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“This tentative agreement was reached because nurses across British Columbia came together and showed they were prepared to fight for meaningful change,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear. “The record strike mandate shifted the balance of power at the bargaining table and gave the committee the leverage to push harder, stay at the table longer, and secure meaningful gains for nurses across the province. The bargaining committee believes this represents the strongest agreement achievable through negotiations in this round of bargaining.”
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Nearly 51,000 nurses had voted in favour of job action earlier this month, after six months of negotiations left the union and province at an impasse over wages, benefits and working conditions. Lack of support for nurses facing violence in the workplace was also a key issue.
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The government had previously offered nurses a three per cent wage hike per year over four years, which, while in line with other recent agreements with public-sector unions, was far less than the nurses had wanted. The union said other unions have been able to access an additional two per cent through enhanced funding, but nurses had only been offered 0.4 per cent.
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The new agreement offers a bump to that enhanced funding, as well as addressing concerns over workplace safety, as well as additional violence prevention measures.
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The new collective bargaining agreement will cover about 62,600 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in B.C., the vast majority of whom — 55,000 — are represented by the B.C. Nurses’ Union and the Health Sciences Association.
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The nurses’ contract expired in March 2025.
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This month was the first time in 25 years nurses voted in favour of a strike, according to the union. But any potential job action would be limited and would need 72-hour notice, as nurses are considered an essential service.
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The potential job action would have seen work-to-rule measures, where nurses continue to do their jobs, but don’t perform tasks beyond what is listed on their collective agreement, including non-nursing duties, overtime restrictions and information picket lines.
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