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2001
December 20, 2001
Health care contracts: Liberals want to rollback measures that protect patients, and help attract and keep nurses
Tearing up employment security would make the nursing shortage worse. Especially hard hit would be residents of smaller communities where the government wants to cut or close services. More...
December 16, 2001
New health structures show government’s priority is freezing budgets, cutting services, and privatization
Campbell appointees are all drawn from the ranks of resource corporations and business. Given this unbalanced approach, nurses wonder who will speak for patients? More...
December 12, 2001
New health structures pave the way for huge new cuts
Nurses urge the public to visit their MLAs during the Christmas season, to insist the Liberals keep their promises to improve health care services, not cut them. More...
December 11, 2001
Health Committee report paves way for huge health care cuts
Patients in smaller communities will be the worst affected. Despite some positive suggestions, most of the report involves off-loading costs onto patients, privatization, and stripping services from rural and suburban areas. More...
December 11, 2001
Nurses call on public to pay a holiday visit to their MLAs
Reckless slashing of health care services must end for the sake of those who need care. More...
December 10
Measures for greater security for public Medicare missing from federal budget
Leaders from B.C.'s two largest health care unions says Paul Martin's budget brought down this afternoon fails to address the biggest security concerns held by Canadians: restoring stability to public Medicare.
[ full version - 23K pdf]
December 7, 2001
Cuts to benefits betray public trust
Secret process slashes health services and supports for seniors with no public input. More...
December 5, 2001
Nurses say rollbacks would make health care even worse
When it comes to protecting patients in BC, the government should be attacking the nursing shortage, not tearing up contracts that are just beginning to help. More...
November 26, 2001
Vancouver Island nurses plead for actions to protect patient safety and care Top manager agrees to talk. More...
November 23, 2001
Nurses condemn Liberal’s mismanagement and yet another broken promise as they refuse to fund the settlement they imposed
Drastic cuts to patient services will result if nurses are not recruited and retained. More...
November 23
B.C. unions challenge liberal's labour laws at the Internationl Labour Organization
Unions representing teachers, school support workers, and nurses in British Columbia have filed a formal complaint against the provincial government with the Internationl Labour Organization, the labour body of the United Nations.
[ full version - 10K pdf]
November 22, 2001
Minister mistaken about what’s hindering emergency solutions
The only real roadblock is the government’s lack of commitment, as demonstrated by its freeze on health care funding. More...
November 16, 2001
Nurses say "Call Colin"
In response to his reaction to the closing of St. Paul’s Hospital emergency ward, people should telephone the Health Services Minister whenever there’s a problem affecting patient safety. More...
November 15, 2001
Emergency ward crisis: instead of freezing budgets government should step up drive to attract and keep nurses
So much for openness and accountability: Health Services Minister suggests gagging doctors and nurses for speaking out and acting to protect patients from the impact of his government’s inaction. More...
November 9, 2001
Nurses say no to privatization and spending freeze
In its brief to the Select Standing Committee on Health, the BC Nurses’ Union offers innovative solutions that will protect and improve public health care, while reducing costs in the long run. More...
November 9, 2001
Nurses will present brief to standing health committee
The BC Nurses Union will present its brief to the Select Standing Committee on Health today (November 9) at 1:30 pm, at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel, 15269 104th Ave. Surrey. More...
November 2, 2001
BC Nurses’ Union believes philosophical differences on health care reform, not lack of progress in planning, root cause of government’s decision
Firing of deputy health minister shows Liberal government’s incredible mismanagement of health care and waste of health care dollars. More...
October 22, 2001
Nurses question exclusion of seniors, patient advocates from government "Dialogue on Health" panels
In her presentation, BCNU president Debra McPherson called for a significant effort to reform medicare as a public system through serious change to primary health care and broader use of nurses and nurse practitioners. More...
October 19, 2001
Nurses demand answers about private hospital scheme
Because similar projects have led to increased costs and undermined quality of care, a Freedom of Information request will be filed for the documentation justifying the move. More...
October 10, 2001
Privacy Commissioner confirms health care workers’ fears that private public partnerships threaten patient privacy
Contract between Vancouver Hospital and Telus did not adequately protect patient privacy. More...
October 9, 2001
Nurses slam government priorities, offer solutions for better health care
The BC Nurses’ Union today challenged the provincial government to reassess its plan for massive cuts in public services, including health care to pay for its reckless tax cuts for the wealthy and big business. More...
October 4, 2001
Liberal "consultations" deny public real input
The Liberal government’s "public consultation" process on its plans to cut public spending and public services is a complete sham, the BC Nurses’ Union says. More...
October 3, 2001
Yet another broken promise
Three-year spending freeze for health care and education will mean massive reductions in services by the Liberal government. More...
October 2, 2001
Private clinics: Liberals break health care promise
Before the vote, Gordon Campbell said he would work to improve the public system, not build up private clinics. Now it’s a different story. More...
September 7, 2001
Campbell appears ready to break health care promise
By opening the door to private clinics, increased private health care,and user fees, the Premier is reneging on a commitment he made before the election. More...
July 30, 2001
Mini-budget proves Liberals have misplaced priorities
The new government ignores health care — the number one priority of most British Columbians — and gives massive tax breaks to the wealthy and big business. More...
July 23, 2001
BCNU members will report to work as scheduled
The Health Sciences Association has notified the Nurses’ Bargaining Association that paramedical professionals will be withdrawing services today, July 23, 2001, as a protest of the Health Employers Association of BC’s failure to bargain. More...
July 18, 2001
Nurses' votes counted before the election, now nurses' concerns put on the back burner
Lynn Stephens, Liberal MLA Langley and Minister of State for Women's Equality, signed a pledge pre-election to support BC Nurses' Union goals and has failed miserably in living up to her commitment. More...
July 17, 2001
Lack of commitment to address nursing shortage outrages nurses
HEABC and Liberals appear determined to wage war with health care workers despite impact on care for thousands of British Columbians. More...
July 15, 2001
Poll shows solid public support for nurses’ position
Two-thirds of British Columbians who expressed an opinion believe it’s reasonable that Registered Nurses be paid a top wage of $35 an hour. More...
July 13, 2001
Nursing shortage continues to harm patient care
In some cases the situation is worse than during the nurses’ job action, when the union was required to authorize overtime up to essential service levels. More...
July 11, 2001
Nurses demand improved monetary offer from employers to keep and attract the nurses needed by patients in BC
The ball is back in the court of the provincial government and HEABC, now that nurses have countered on one of the employers’ key priorities. More...
July 4, 2001
Nurses in the Fraser Valley are outraged that funding for health care is in jeopardy
Liberals promised no cuts to health care funding during their election campaign - yet Regional Health Boards have recently received funding letters from the Ministry of Health indicating cuts to their budgets this fiscal year. More...
July 3, 2001
NBA tables new proposal for settlement
Proposed two-year agreement would bring the top rate for a front-line nurse to $35 an hour on April 1, 2002. The new proposal also refers the issue of overtime costs to a special joint committee to start the process of cutting overtime by 50 per cent at the local level. More...
June 29, 2001
North Shore nurses deliver message to Regional Health Board
Frustrated nurses spoke out at Wednesday night’s North Shore Regional Health Board meeting, challenging the board to take nursing issues to the Health Employers Association of BC. More...
June 28, 2001
BC nurses appreciate support from Alberta colleagues
Newspaper ad supports BC nurses’ fight against concessions and for better compensation. Last March, Alberta health employers withdrew the same concession demand against their part-time nurses now being made by employers in BC. More...
June 27, 2001
Nurses have new proposal for settlement
To increase the pressure on the provincial government and the Health Employers’ Association to negotiate a settlement with nurses, the Nurses’ Bargaining Association has put together a new proposal. More...
June 25, 2001
British Columbians oppose legislation against nurses
A new McIntyre and Mustel poll also shows strong public opposition to health employers' demands that nurses accept contract concessions. An overwhelming majority supports the nurses' proposal, that the government rejected, that would have got talks back on track. More...
June 21, 2001
Nurses dispute employers' figures on overtime
No amount of government advertising or figure fudging will convince the public that there is no nursing shortage, or that overtime to fill vacancies isn't a serious problem. If this is the government's idea of good faith collective bargaining as required by its own legislation, the new ministers have a lot to learn. More...
June 18, 2001
Government turns down nurses' proposal for speedy settlement
Under the plan, nurses would have ended their overtime ban, while the government would have instructed health employers to drop their concession demands that would make the nursing shortage even worse. More...
June 13, 2001
Citizens speak out in support of nurses
They call on the provincial government to put more money on the table to keep and attract nurses in BC. More...
June 12, 2001
Nurses are disappointed with government’s response
Apparently when it comes to health care and nursing care for British Columbians, the New Era that the Liberals promised during the election campaign, is really the Old Era with different faces. More...
June 7, 2001
Government knows tax cuts are no solution to nursing shortage vote result tomorrow (June 6)
Huge pay hikes for deputy ministers who get the biggest tax cuts show Victoria understands what’s really essential to recruit and retain the best and the brightest. More...
June 6, 2001
Nurses vote by 96 per cent to reject employer offer
Fighting for better health care for all British Columbians, nurses call on the new provincial government to direct HEABC to return to the bargaining table with an offer that will retain and attract the nurses needed by patients in the province. More...
June 4, 2001
Managers’ continued reliance on overtime unacceptable to West Kootenay nurses
Employers should stop wasting taxpayers’ money on expensive ads and lobby the government for the funds to keep and attract the nurses that British Columbians need and deserve. More...
June 1, 2001
Nurses encouraged by Gordon Campbell’s recognition of the need for large salary increases to attract and retain professionals
New compensation structure for public sector managers would mean raises of up to 61 per cent. More...
June 1, 2001
Health employers wasting tax money on misleading ads
The nurses’ fight is a fight for all British Columbians. A nurses’ rally planned for Monday is designed to provide nurses and the public with accurate information. More...
May 31, 2001
Fixing the nursing shortage is more important to British Columbians than a tax cut: poll
An overwhelming majority believes increasing wages would be effective in retaining and recruiting nurses, hereby reducing the shortage. More...
May 28, 2001
Doctors support nurses in message to Premier-elect
A group of physicians spoke out today to encourage the Premier-elect Gordon Campbell to attract the best and brightest nurses to BC by paying them globally competitive wages. More...
May 24, 2001
Nurses support doctors' call for health care Task Force, oppose privatization
The BC Nurses' Union supports the BC Medical Association's call today for a Task Force to develop ways to fix the province's health care system. More...
May 16, 2001
Candidates from all political parties continue to pledge their support for nursing and health care in BC the morning of the election
More than 75 candidates have signed a pledge card committing them to support globally competitive wages and premiums for BC nurses, progressive changes in the health employers’ bargaining structure, expansion of nursing education, and a commitment to free collective bargaining. More...
May 15, 2001
Nurses issue challenge to health care CEOs and managers
To truly put patients first, senior administrators should join nurses in an appeal to the new provincial government to fund a contract that will retain and recruit the nurses needed in BC. More...
May 11, 2001
For Your Information, this letter has been sent to Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun owes its readers an apology for twice using a grossly inaccurate graph about nurses' pay which came from the Health Employers' Association of BC - once in its news pages May 9 and again under your editorial May 11 ("BC nurses risk a public backlash, Vancouver Sun May 11, 2001). More...
May 11, 2001
Nurses dismiss employer campaign
Instead of trying to pressure nurses to lift their ban on overtime and on non-nursing duties, health authority CEOs should be pressing the Health Employers’ Association and politicians to improve their offer. More...
May 11, 2001
Nurses outraged that management closes ORs at Children’s Hospital today
HEABC’s Gary Moser quick to blame nurses for cancelled surgeries, but he remains silent when managers shut down ORs at VGH and Children’s Hospital. More...
May 11, 2001
Langley nurses are concerned latest contract offer won't fill 29 vacancies at Langley Hospital
Nurses at Langley hospital raised concern today that the latest contract offer won't attract nurses to fill the 29 vacancies they have in the hospital. More...
May 8, 2001
Nurses confirm initial dismay over contract offer
Wage increases and vehicle rates are totally inadequate. Proposal still contains concessions. Union will take proposal out to members for a vote to demonstrate nurses’ support for bargaining demands. Job action will be maintained. More...
May 7, 2001
Nurses dismayed by employer proposal
BC nurses are disappointed and dismayed by the settlement proposal tabled today by the Health Employers’ Association of BC. More...
May 3, 2001
Nurses announce new step in job action
A nurses’ Reduced Activity Day will bring targeted units down to essential service levels for from two to four hours tomorrow in worksites across the province. More...
April 26, 2001
Nurses keep the pressure on
Province-wide overtime ban starts again. More...
April 23, 2001
Community nurses to hold study sessions this morning
The focus of the job action will be pressing for a substantial increase in vehicle rates paid to nurses who must use their own cars to do their jobs. More...
April 11, 2001
Health employer offer to nurses "not even close"
Proposal would leave BC behind in the effort to recruit and retain enough RNs and RPNs during the global nursing shortage. It doesn’t even meet Alberta rates. Nurses will escalate job action with Easter Weekend overtime ban. More...
April 5, 2001
Nurses vote more than 95 per cent to strike
Strike notice is served for Monday April 9. Limited job action will have minimal impact on patients and will not affect other health care workers. More...
March 21, 2001
Nurses: For patients’ sake, stop shutting out key decision-makers
It’s time to ensure that the people accountable for decisions to close facilities and cut services are part of discussions to resolve the nursing shortage, as they are in other provinces. More...
Tuesday, March 13, 2001
Riverview Compromises Patient Care - ECT only the tip of the iceberg
"Despite two recent independent Professional Practice reviews commissioned by the Minister of Health, and 3 years of continuous complaints to three different Ministers, patients continue to be put at risk at Riverview Hospital," according to the Riverview Nursing Stakeholders Group comprised of representatives from the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC, Union of Psychiatric Nurses and BC Nurses’ Union. More...
March 5, 2001
Nurses: HEABC verging on bad faith
If the employers’ negotiators are unwilling to make nurses a wage offer, Victoria should replace them with people who are. More...
March 1, 2001
Nurses look for signs Premier will fulfill televised commitments
Nurses welcome Premier’s statement that solving the nursing shortage is his top priority, and that it means "paying nurses what they’re worth." More...
February 14, 2001
BC’s nurses deliver heartfelt Valentine’s message to MLA’s and provincial candidates for election
"Care for those who care for you" and ensure British Columbians have the health care they deserve! More...
January 12, 2001
Employers’ demands would make nursing shortage even worse
Nurses are urged to contact their managers and demand the withdrawal of HEABC’s proposals to roll back nurses’ vacation, sick leave, maternity leave, training. More...
January 8
Bargaining 2001 begins
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