The power of ONE; the strength of MANY
August 24, 2007	PDF format 936 Kb

A new BCNU communication published four times a year to acknowledge and publicize some of the accomplishments of the union and our members

Weekend nights innovation
In a major breakthrough, BCNU has helped nurses at St. Paul's Hospital's ER negotiate a new rotation called the "Weekend Tour of Duty."

The rotation creates four full-time lines for weekend night shifts. Nurses will work 12-hour shifts Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights three weekends in a row, with the fourth weekend off. They'll receive full-time pay and benefits for working about two-thirds of normal full-time hours for a four week rotation.

The rotation – which is expected to reduce overtime - will run as a one-year pilot project beginning in September. The union and Providence Health Care are also helping staff develop responsive shift schedules for nurses on all other shifts in the ER.

Stunning Victory on Bill 29
It was a big win for BCNU, our allies in HEU and BCGEU, the entire Canadian labour movement and all working people.

In a 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that clauses in Bill 29 - which removed contract protections concerning contracting out, layoffs and bumping, without any consultation - violated our right to freedom of association under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

BCNU is hopeful that implementation talks scheduled with the government for September will be fruitful.

Workload committees make progress
Thanks to the intervention of a Strategic Workload Analysis Team (SWAT) at Venture, a mental health residential care facility in Vancouver, overburdened staff gained access to a second lap top computer which they can use throughout the facility.

The SWATs – consisting of BCNU and health authority representatives - were established in the 2006-2010 provincial contract to address pressing workload concerns.

The new laptop at Venture addresses a severe shortage of workspace in a cramped nursing station, making charting, referrals and other reporting duties extremely stressful. 

Vancouver Coastal SWATs are also working on workload solutions at worksites including Dogwood, Richmond Hospital, UBC Purdy Pavillion and George Pearson Hospital.

Nurses gain at first PRF Assessment Committee
Nurses have secured some positive recommendations in the first-ever report of an Assessment Committee appointed under the new PRF language in the provincial contract.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is moving to implement the report written by University of British Columbia nursing professor Pamela Ratner.

The issue concerned persistent problems affecting nurses' ability to deliver quality care at the Psychiatric Intensive Care and Psychiatric Emergency Services units at Royal Jubilee Hospital. More than 20 PRFs were filed there since December 2005.

After hearing from nurses and managers, the committee concluded the concerns were serious and must be addressed.

The committee recommended among other things, responsive shift scheduling; the creation of regular specialized resource teams or shared positions; assigning one of three unit coordinators to nights; monitoring with effective closed circuit TV; and a commitment to professional development and continuing education.

BCNU to boost labour relations capacity
BCNU will be increasing our labour relations capacity thanks to a series of education programs designed by Capilano College and our own staff.

The 13-week program – which will involve 20 to 25 BCNU members and two of the Union of Psychiatric Nurses members - begins September 17. The program will also run in 2008 and 2009.

The program will build a wider pool of people qualified to take on labour relations responsibilities as stewards or as staff LROs.

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