Provincial Executive - 2020 Election Results

Respect, Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Advocacy and Democratic process are what resonate with me defining a strong union, including living the values etched on the wall in the BCNU Boardroom.

This past year I was Elected Vice President, participating in Council, Provincial Executive, serving on several Committees. I want the members to know that I am here to serve you the members and listen to your concerns, addressing them in a timely manner with due process.

My pledge and promise to advocate for:

• Safe staffing levels including baseline and ratios in Acute Care, LTC, and Community with replacement of uncovered shifts.

• Worksites free from Violence, Racism and Bullying

• Ensure the Health Authorities and Government provide proper and adequate PPE

• Bring back the 36 hour work week

• Term limits: 2 terms and return to Frontline.

• Member Engagement / Outreach. Increased visibility and  presence in the worksites to address concerns. Ward reps on all units and better accessibility to Stewards. Increase the number of Stewards and provide them with more education. Maintain Telephone hotline 24/7 coverage, review creating an online chat        room.

• Provide workshops / webinars to address questions about navigating Maternity Leave, Sick Leave including medical EI, WCB, EDMP, LTD, GRTW, Supernumerary status, Duty to Accommodate, and buying back Pensions.

• Retention and Recruitment 

Retention: Review what is needed to keep nurses in the profession, scheduling, renumeration, increased shift differentials,mentorship, advancement opportunities, education.

• Recruitment: Increased involvement in promoting Nursing as a profession, advocating for more Nursing seats to be funded and made available to students. Advocating for the government to assist Internationally Educated Nurses to work in the healthcare system in some capacity, while they are awaiting Registration with the College. Mentorship program 

• Consultation with all members for key concerns to be addressed at the next bargaining round and a completed Collective Agreement.

• Hold a referendum on matters involving democratic process change.

• Retirees: 1% benefit fund, what benefits are retirees receiving from this fund? Create a complete retiree database.

33 years of Nursing as a Frontline Nurse, 20 years in Leadership, mainly as Site Leader for the entire campus of SMH. By remaining hands on, and current in practise, mentoring, and leading our members to provide care to their patients, with sufficient staff, supplies and resources. 

Serving as Provincial Human Rights and Equity Chair, and promoting Allyship amongst the Indigenous Leadership Circle, Mosaic of Colour, LGBTQ2S+, Workers with Disabilities, Young Nurses Network, and Men In Nursing Caucuses. 

Advocating for inclusivity, and change to address biases, systemic racism, bullying, harassment and advancing the platforms that these Caucuses are promoting. It was an honour to hold the Human Rights and Equity Conference: Climate Change- Nursing, Advocacy, Leadership.

Working as Co-chair of the Seniors Strategy Working Group, it is imperative that staffing levels and care needs of our Seniors are reviewed and advocated for.

In Solidarity, Rising from the grassroots, to bring back nurses voices.Trust and acceptance of change, is necessary to facilitate an organizational shift to better serve and represent our members. Please Vote for Change! 

EMAIL CANDIDATE: grewaman@yahoo.ca

Leadership means shelving personal agendas and listening carefully while representing ALL members. That's how I'll lead when serving as our next BCNU Vice-President. I excel at remaining calm and collected, especially in difficult situations. I seek consensus while making tough decisions. I resolve issues through respectful, collaborative efforts with a common sense approach. My positive attitude and enthusiasm run deep and my mature leadership skills are a huge asset. I try to never forget to include gratitude and humour. I get along well with others and enjoy working in a variety of teams. My varied experiences as a long-time Union activist, Mental Health nurse, Regional Executive member and now as RCH's Full-time Steward have given me the background to succeed and advocate for better contracts, safer work-sites and manageable workloads. I have been a member of other Unions (BCGEU, Steelworkers, Teamsters, CUPE, and HSA) where my advocacy and Steward skills developed.

Since leading my nursing colleagues out of a non-nursing Union into BCNU in 2012, I am proud of my record and will be honored to serve on our Provincial Executive Team. I started working full-time as an RPN at RCH in 2008. I am an elected Steward, was the RCH co-Chair of the PR Committee (for over 5 years), was a Member Organizer, and also the Regional PR Advocate from 2017 until becoming RCH's Full-Time Steward in 2019.  I am committed to being a strong voice at every level. Some members have expressed that our Union's culture has become somewhat disconnected from our members, but I'm dedicated to empowering our membership towards having their ideas valued and implemented whenever possible. All our leaders must have a collective vision that understands the needs and goals of all BCNU members. With your vote, I can be a vital part of that vision. Together we can shape our Union into a well-balanced, productive force that will serve our members well. I stand ready to lead in a progressive and positive direction.

If elected, I will consistently strive to:

• Bring drive, passion, vitality and stability to my role;

• Build a more open and inclusive atmosphere that fosters a climate of collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and amicable communications;

• Encourage participation so all members have abundant opportunities to participate in and feel connected to our Union;

• Make efforts to effectively engage and empower our membership;

• Promote 21st century practices that embrace technology and innovative ways of conducting business;

• Remain approachable, accountable and responsive to members.

I am open to hearing from our members how they believe we are doing and their ideas on how to best accomplish their requested changes to promote confidence and pride in our Union and our leaders. I'm looking towards strategic preparation to defend our already won gains plus bargaining maximum precision with significant increases into our Collective agreements. My ultimate goal is to achieve the very best Contracts for every single member – ones that are appreciated as substantial improvements for all.

 (Edited to comply with word count limit)

EMAIL CANDIDATE: royh@shaw.ca
Website: https://www.roy4vp.com/

Tracy Quewezance - for Vice President 

I was asked to run for the VP position at this time when the world, our Province is in an upheaval, with so many unknowns, caused by the pandemic. This is a time of change, a time like we have never seen. 

25 years ago, I became a steward. I became involved to advocate for others, to support the nurses, to become a strong voice. This is truer than ever today. So much has changed from when I began with BCNU.  The roles I have held over the years in BCNU as an activist, have prepared me for the VP role. From steward, to steward coordinator leading a team ,planting seeds of activism and empowerment ,participating ,organizing and leading the members through strikes and job actions .Moving forward and taking on a new role as a steward liaison to support ,encourage and lead stewards in the  region . Back then the steward liaison role in my region was also vice chair of the region.

 My preparation for the VP role began years ago, even before I knew it. From there, I followed a labour relations path, as FT steward at RIH for 6 years, advocating, encouraging, and lobbying for changes, the nurses needed.

 In all these roles I did media interviews and became more experienced and articulate public speaking, finding my voice, speaking out for the members. 

 In 2012 I was asked to run for regional chair. I went into that role and it further supported and developed my growth, advocating at a higher level, encouraging, supporting, mentoring my regional executive team, regional caucus reps, FT stewards, stewards, and members. 

My career has been about supporting, mentoring, advocating and uplifting others to succeed. I advocated for safe workplaces and helped turn Hillside around. In all roles I have held ,I have participated in bargaining ,to gain stronger language, better wages and benefits and through it all strengthen BCNU. I meet with our MLA'S and MP'S to share what is happening in our sites and in our communities and to address the concerns members are facing. I have organized quarterly meetings with all the site administrators and executive directors in my region, to develop working relationships, so that we have regular dialogue, to address the nurse's concerns at that higher level. 

Having years of experience and knowledge, brings value to the Union and the role of VP.

OBJECTIVES:

Uphold the Mission and Values of BCNU

Keep Human Rights and Equity issues in the for front of BCNU and support the work of the HRE Caucus  

Successfully assist and mentor the new council members, in their transition to new BCNU board members 

Lobby to address Nurses workload and safe psychologically healthy workplaces 

Lobby to ensure health care and issues affecting nurses is a top priority in the Provincial and Federal elections

Empower Members to find their voices, to lobby for change and to address issues in their workplaces 

Vote Tracy Q for Vice president 

EMAIL CANDIDATE: qutea63@gmail.com
Website: https://tracyquewezance.com

Democracy, transparency, true advocacy, equal opportunities and equality is a must to fairly represent all our members. It should be a priority for any organisation as members are the ones who pay to run their organisation.

Therefore I decided to run.

I have been a union activist for 15 years; I worked in the North West region in Terrace before moving to the Okanagan. I became a steward in 2013, worked as a JOHS steward; I am currently Mosaic of colour caucus regional rep & provincial chair. I was lobby coordinator in TNO. I ran for the provincial & Federal elections in 2015 & 2019. One of the main reasons I ran was to give nurses & health care workers a voice & to address our ongoing concerns at government levels, also to advocate for healthcare, mental health & the need for resources. I was able to put health care & social justice issues forefront by raising our voice at every 'All Candidates Forums', with media, news, live debates on radio and interviews on Global TV, CBC & Local channels.

I work at frontline as a PCC and as bedside nurse casually in Vernon community & at Vernon Jubilee hospital, I am so familiar with the challenges we face every day. Members share with me that, "It feels like we lose something at every bargain rather than gaining, or we have to compromise one thing to get another." Bargaining means gaining not losing or having to compromise. After getting lots of encouragement from members I decided to run; however I received couple of calls & messages asking me to not run because, "I will split the vote, we have to be strategic, and maybe run next time" etc. I felt like it was attempt to kill democracy; real democracy is to run with an honest, respectful and transparent campaign by sharing with members who we are instead of slandering other candidates or playing tricky politics. I have utmost respect for all candidates as they bring several qualities, lots of courage & desire to serve the members.

If elected, I will work hard to:

Restore member's trust and confidence

Continue to encourage member engagement by advocating to get rid of any barriers as I know how it feels when we are repeatedly discouraged & supressed from coming forward to show abilities

Strongly stand for a transparent bargaining where members will know exactly what they are voting for I still remember with 37.5 work week. I voted along with other nurses to have extra 15 minutes added to our existing shifts, however later we were told that, it was not an option.

I will be approachable and will encourage members to share their voices & concerns without any fear of repercussions. I will work harmoniously & collaboratively with council members, by always keeping members &their concerns at forefront.

This election I won't be able to meet you all in person so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

EMAIL CANDIDATE: bcnusteward@hotmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Harwinder-Sandhu-for-BCNU-Vice-President-Vote-for-Integrity-101671011644059/