Nurses hopeful talks will benefit all parties
Government appointment to deal with Bill 29 positive move forward
The appointment of Paul Straszak, Associate Deputy Minister of Labour, to steer talks about the recent Supreme Court decision striking down provisions in BC's Bill 29 is a positive move according to BC's nurses.
This June the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that sections of Bill 29, the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act, violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Sections that restricted and gutted the bargaining rights of health care workers were struck down and the government was given one year to address the repercussions of the decision.
Debra McPherson, President of the BC Nurses' Union, responded with a hopeful tone to the government announcement that talks would begin soon.
"I am hoping that we can all come to the table with a problem-solving approach that seeks to address the impact Bill 29 has had on our members. Let's look for the ways to best benefit those members and chart a path forward for future cooperation."
The BC Nurses' Union is pleased that the government is beginning consultations and is looking forward to working with Mr. Straszak in the near future.
"We're looking for everyone to come to a better understanding of the differing views of the Court decision and we're ready to explore all possibilities for solutions," added Anne Shannon, Vice-President of the BC Nurses' Union.
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