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Nurses dismayed by apparent Liberal Party directive
Indications are that Liberal candidates have been instructed not to attend all-candidates meetings organized by nurses
Nurses are dismayed by an apparent directive issued by the BC Liberal Party instructing its candidates not to attend all-candidates meetings organized by the BC Nurses’ Union.
Several Liberal candidates have told nurses they’ve been advised by their party not to participate, because nurses are currently involved in collective bargaining.
"This is frankly very disappointing and disturbing coming from a party that appears poised to become the government of BC for the foreseeable future," says BCNU president Debra McPherson. "Gordon Campbell has said repeatedly that he want BC to be a ‘magnet’ for nurses, that he wants nurses to feel valued and respected, that we’re a crucial part of the health care system. We’ve heard similar sentiments from his health care critic and other Liberals. We don’t understand how refusing to attend our meetings demonstrates they value and respect nurses."
McPherson says voters need to know where candidates from all parties stand, not on the specifics of collective bargaining, but on the principles that will guide their policies toward nurses and health care after May 16.
"For example, I believe voters deserve to know whether candidates think it’s important for British Columbia to be competitive with other jurisdictions in paying Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses, in order to retain and recruit the nurses BC needs during the current international nursing shortage," McPherson says.
While Premier Ujjal Dosanjh has said it’s important to "pay nurses what they’re worth", nurses are looking forward to all-candidates meetings to press NDP candidates as well on what that commitment means.
Voters also need to know from the parties if and how they will fund additional education seats for RNs and RPNs over the next few years, and where they will find the additional instructors needed to teach the increased number of students being promised.
Yesterday, Adrienne Carr, leader of the Green Party became the first party leader to sign a pledge of support for nurses. The pledge has also been signed by several NDP and Liberal candidates, but many Liberal candidates have indicated they’ve been instructed not to sign the pledge.
BCNU is a non-partisan organization which supports no political party. It is active in lobbying governments and politicians from all political parties on nursing issues.
For more information contact:
| Debra McPherson |
209-4253 |
| BCNU Communications: |
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| Shirley Ross |
209-4258 |
| Art Moses |
868-4259 |
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