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July 29, 1998
Talks tense and progress slow
The Nurses' Association Bargaining Committee finished the first round of bargaining on July 22nd. So far the bargaining committees have discussed only non-monetary items like harassment and equalizing the posting and probationary language provisions in the contract.
But the atmosphere in the last two weeks of bargaining was tense. HEABC representatives showed little respect for nurses' concerns and took the position that nurses are putting themselves and their issues before patient care.
Back at the table in late August
Bargaining will resume on Monday, August 24th. At that time, the union bargaining committee will be working to complete discussions on non-monetary issues and move on to the contract proposals which provide for equality of the monetary provisions in the collective agreement.
Nurses face a large number of issues which other health care unions have not had to deal with in this round of bargaining. The inequalities within the nurses' bargaining unit are far larger than in other union contracts, and the workload issues for nurses are much more serious. In addition, nurses were not awarded pay equity in the last contract and this issue must be addressed in the 1998-2001 contract.
Watch for updates in September
BCNU members and registered psychiatric nurses in the HSA and UPN are likely going to be facing some difficult decisions in the early fall. Please watch for meeting notices and new bargaining bulletins when you return to work following summer vacations.
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