CEO Report: “Everybody Has to Embrace Their Power”
BCNU CEO Jim Gould began his report on day one of convention by showing delegates a picture of his mother, Margaret, and described how her fierce advocacy inspired him.
“She taught me about standing up to bullies, surrounding myself with people who have my back and the importance of having other people’s backs,” said Gould, telling delegates that he approaches his position as the union’s top staff member with the same spirit.
He outlined a vision for his role as the union’s staff leader, describing it as a simple to articulate but not always easy to fulfil.
“The purpose that I have in this role is to improve the conditions for nurses in this province – end stop,” said Gould. “I do it through my actions. I do it through my leadership.”
Gould then shared his vision of solidarity with delegates and displayed a picture of a large group of small fish on the screen. He noted the fish swimming together in response to predators illustrate how a group can work together to address a common threat.
“It’s hard for other creatures to get at them when they’re swimming in a circle like that, and it’s an illustration in nature of being stronger together,” he explained. For union members, the image has many parallels.
Gould then provided delegates with his assessment of the political context ahead of upcoming Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) contract negotiations, including a BC government budgetary deficit that now sits at $13 billion. While Gould acknowledged this number is concerning, he said members shouldn’t take it at face value.
“Show us the money that has not been spent on the 6,000 nurses the system was short,” he said to resounding applause from delegates. “Show us the money. We’re going to be saying that a lot.”
The union has set five top priorities for NBA bargaining, with benefits as the lead item. Gould explained that employer-paid unlimited benefits for massage and physiotherapy were bargained away in 2019, but that members will have several opportunities ahead, including at upcoming town halls and through a survey, to provide input to help guide the bargaining committee as it negotiates the future of these benefits.
He told delegates that the union is well positioned to do this work after a series of bargaining conferences that engaged first-time participants over the past year. With a $75 million strike fund – the largest the union has ever had – members have the power to fight for what they deserve.
Gould provided details on the internal work happening at BCNU offices to develop the union, foster excellence in staff, and build the strongest nursing union in the world. Since assuming the CEO role full time, Gould has emphasized strengthening internal processes, building a learning culture, increasing staff education, and developing leadership capacity throughout the organization.
He concluded his presentation by detailing the ways the organization is promoting a culture of collectivity and increasing member engagement, and left delegates with a challenge: “Everybody has to embrace their power: You have it. It’s time to embrace it. Because a tough road lies ahead.”