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May 26, 2004
Breakthrough Framework Agreement - no concessions on nurses’ wages, benefits or time off
Bargaining will resume after high level health care policy discussions in June on ways to improve the practice environment and workload of RNs and RPNs
The Nurses’ Bargaining Association has reached a Framework Agreement with the Health Employers’ Association of BC to work to resolve some of the key professional practice issues affecting RNs and RPNs. The agreement also limits the scope of issues to be discussed at the bargaining table this year.
Under the Framework Agreement, HEABC has agreed not to seek rollbacks involving hourly wage rates or benefits or time off provisions in the nurses’ collective agreement. That means there will be no changes in nurses’ entitlement to health and welfare benefits, vacation, sick time, severance and sick banks.
In return, the NBA has agreed to work within the government’s zero, zero fiscal framework for total compensation. That means "excepting funding for the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, if continued, any changes in the Collective Agreement will be implemented within the total compensation base in place as of March 31, 2004, although the parties may agree to cost reallocations within this net 0-0 (2-year) mandate for the Collective Agreement."
The complete text of this agreement has been faxed to BCNU stewards and will be mailed to all members later this week. It will be available on the BCNU website www.bcnu.org.
The agreement provides for a high level discussion process in June on health policy issues chaired by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Services, involving BCNU regional chairs, senior health authority and Ministry of Health Services officials, and senior nursing managers.
The policy teams will work on recommendations to increase regular full-time positions, nurse scheduling options, hours of work, employment of new graduates, and phased retirement.
If agreement is reached on policy recommendations, they will be referred to the bargaining committees in July. In addition to the policy items, the bargaining committees will also discuss the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare (OHSAH); long-term disability supplementary benefit; mileage for community nurses; and displacements, placement in vacancies, and bumping.
Bargaining on this short list of issues is scheduled to be completed by the end of July, unless the timeline is extended by mutual agreement.
If the parties cannot reach agreement, they will recommend that the current collective agreement be rolled over until March 31, 2006.
Regardless of whether the Nurses Bargaining Association recommends changes or recommends a rollover collective agreement, members will have a ratification vote.
This framework is a substantial achievement for the Nurses’ Bargaining Association. There was every indication that HEABC was ready to table a substantial number of concession demands at the nurses’ bargaining table, as they did in January with the Paramedical Bargaining Association.
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