BCNU Council appoints various committees to provide advice to Council and help it make decisions. Some committees provide annual reports to the BCNU Convention. The union often asks members who do not hold leadership positions to apply to be part of some BCNU committees.

If you're interested in BCNU Committees, Networks and Working Groups, fill out the participation form and submit it to the BCNU office to the attention of Jacquie Bobenic.

Complaints Investigation
This committee only meets when a BCNU member files a complaint against another BCNU member as outlined under the BCNU constitution Article 34. The committee investigates the complaint and makes recommendations regarding the status.

The committee consists of one elected member from each of the sixteen BCNU regions. Only three of the sixteen elected members plus the committee chair meet to hear each complaint.

Education Fund (BCNEF)
The BC Nurses' Union Education Fund (BCNEF) is a non-profit, registered charitable trust dedicated to providing monetary assistance to nurses seeking professional growth. The fund provides bursaries to nurses who are enrolled in a post-basic clinical nursing seminar, program or conference or a labour relations related seminar, program or conference.

Twice a year, the BCNU Bursary Committee meets to review applications and decides on grants to nurses registered in B.C., and enrolled in accredited education programs.

Finance
The Finance Committee monitors the financial affairs of the Union. They maintain, promote and protect the financial position of the Union. They also recommend policies to the BCNU Council with respect to the financial affairs of the Union.

As per BCNU Bylaws: The composition of the Committee consists of the Treasurer, who shall be the Chair, and four other members appointed by the council. Two shall be council members as elected by the council.

LEAP
The Legal Expense Assistance Program (LEAP) was established in 1988 with a mandate to assist BCNU members with legal problems which primarily arise from work related issues or incidents that give rise to a Professional Review or Inquest by the CRNBC. A fund was established to pay for legal fees to support these members, associated staff costs, committee meeting expenses and other related expenses.

The LEAP Committee is charged with reviewing the operations of the LEAP and making funding and approval decisions.

The Committee is composed of five members including a Chair elected from Council. These members shall be composed of one representative from each of Large Acute Care, Small Acute Care, Medium Acute Care, Long Term Care and Public Service/Municipalities. The LEAP Administrator is also a member of the Committee. The Committee meets at least once per year and between meetings makes other decisions via Conference Call.

Nominations
The Nominations Committee is responsible for all elections for elected officers of BCNU. This Committee reports to the BCNU Council and makes recommendations to the Council, Provincial Executive and/or Executive Director -Operations. The Committee is composed of a chairperson from Council, two members and two alternates from the members. There are also staff members as ex officio members. The Committee puts out the call for nominations for the elected officers of BCNU - President, Vice-President, Provincial Treasurer and two Executive Councillors. The Committee is also responsible for the election for the Bargaining Committee and Provincial Job Action Committee at the Provincial Bargaining Strategy Conference.

They meet at the BCNU office in Burnaby three times a year - late Jan./early Feb., spring and fall.

OH&S
The Occupational Health and Safety Committee is made up of the Regional Executive OH&S member from the sixteen regions, as well as the Provincial OH&S Chair who is a member of the provincial executive and the provincial Long Term Disability Chair.

The Committee meets to look at themes occurring with health and safety across the province. They are the communication link for OH&S issues between the BCNU provincial level and the BCNU regions. They also give suggestions on health and safety education.

Pensions
The BCNU Pension Committee consists of representatives from the three major pension plans in which BCNU members are enrolled: the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), the Public Service Pension Plan, and the Canadian Blood Services Pension Plan, plus the Chair and one retiree. The Trustee and Alternate trustee of the Municipal Pension Plan are also automatically considered to fill one of these spots.

The Committee’s goals are to promote improvements in pension plans and retirement provisions of collective agreements and education of members of retirement issues.

The Committee has explored and promoted issues such as the enrolment of private for profit employers in the MPP, the joint trusteeship of the BC public sector pension plans and early retirement options. It continues to address investment issues such as ethical screening and socially responsible investing.

Committee members meet three times per year, prior to the meeting of the Municipal Employees Pension Committee (MEPC). The MEPC brings together delegates from various unions around issues related to the Municipal Pension Plan and provides pension education opportunities.

Retired Nurse Network
The Retired Nurses Network is taking action to protect pensions and benefits. They work with BCNU members on key issues affecting retired nurses and connect with other retired nurses in a social context.

The network has a steering committee consisting of a chairperson who is a BCNU Executive Councillor and five steering committee members who are retired BCNU nurse activists.