 |
October 19, 2004
CLC closes case against BCNU concerning LPNs
The Canadian Labour Congress has closed the case that was filed against BCNU this summer by HEU/CUPE and BCGEU/NUPGE concerning LPNs.
In a letter copied to BCNU last week, CLC president Ken Georgetti wrote: "Therefore, the case is closed. I would encourage the parties to continue dialogue on the issues raised in these discussions."
Georgetti’s letter was in response to a letter sent Oct. 1 by Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions on BCNU’s behalf. CFNU is BCNU’s national affiliate to the CLC.
In her letter to Georgetti, Silas reaffirmed an agreement reached at a mediation session provided by the CLC in August "that the BCNU committed not to initiate any further meetings with the government to discuss the appropriate bargaining association for LPNs, on the basis that the BCGEU and HEU made the same commitment. The BCNU, BCGEU and HEU also committed to invite the other unions to any meeting that is requested by government on this issue."
Silas’ letter noted that BCNU Council continues to support having LPNs, RPNs, and RNs in the same bargaining association "with the belief that it will assist in smoothing the transitions in scope of practice of these groups of health professionals, facilitating better patient care. For BCNU, this initiative has always been and continues to be about practice issues, good public policy and better patient care.
"The BCNU have not lobbied the provincial government to have the LPNs moved into BCNU. They have not made public comments that LPNs should move into BCNU.
"The BCNU is willing to continue discussions with affiliates about what they believe to be the best way the affiliates (HEU/BCGEU/BCNU) and LPNs could represent their nursing issues."
Last June BCNU met with Labour Ministry officials, along with representatives of the LPN Association of BC, to argue that LPNs should be transferred into the Nurses’ Bargaining Association.
|
 |
|
