NBA Benefits
The current Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) benefits package is one of the best in Canadian health care, and one of the only nurses' contracts where the employer pays 100 percent of the cost.
But in the upcoming round of negotiations, NBA benefits could change.
What Are the Options in this Round?
There are three options we could pursue in this round of bargaining when it comes to benefits:
Option 1: Create a flex benefit account for all paramedicals or negotiate a cap on message therapy
This option, which both parties agreed to in the 2019 round of bargaining, is outlined in Appendix U.1 of the NBA contract.
Option 2: Enter into a Joint Benefits Trust (JBT)
The employer has indicated their preference for this benefits cost-sharing model. The Trust would receive negotiated funding from employers and some contributions from employees, which it would hold in the Trust fund for the purpose of providing group health benefits and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees.
Option 3: Take a strong stance to turn the previous two options down
This option would require all members to clearly direct the committee that neither option is acceptable and that they want the committee to bargain to get rid of Appendix U.1. This option also requires all members to prepare to take job action.
Learn more about your current benefits and what's at stake
Bargaining and Your Benefits - Part 1: Understanding Your Current BenefitsExplore the design of your current 100% employer paid extended health care benefits and remind yourself of what benefits are included along with their respective limits. |
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Bargaining and Your Benefits - Part 2: The Fight to Protect ThemBC's nurses enjoy some of the best benefits in Canada, but holding on to these benefits hasn't been easy. Dive into the history of NBA bargaining and discover how we reached where we are today. |
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Bargaining and Your Benefits - Part 3: What's Next for Your Coverage?Learn what the future of NBA bargaining may hold, what contractual obligations the NBA is under, and what alternative benefit plan designs look like. Note: The module mentioned in the video is not quite ready yet - it will be published soon. The link will be added here once it's available. |
Current Benefits
Current NBA benefits include employer-paid LTD, dental, prescription coverage, medical aids and equipment, vision care, medical travel insurance, capped paramedical, and unlimited massage and physiotherapy.
These benefits are secure until January 2026, but the upcoming bargaining round will determine their future.
What’s at stake?
Previous bargaining rounds have committed the NBA to agree to either:
- Capping massage therapy reimbursement, or
- An enhanced flex benefit account
We also expect employers to pressure nurses to agree to a joint benefits trust (JBT) cost-sharing arrangement which would shift the financial risk and liability of rising costs from health employers to the NBA.
Why this matters
Employers currently pay 100 percent of the cost of benefits. But a JBT could make benefits less secure, tying coverage to funding levels and any changes could reduce coverage or increase out-of-pocket costs.
What’s a Joint Benefits Trust - and why should you care?
A JBT would:
- Force nurses to share costs (LTD, prescriptions, paramedical services, etc.)
- Tie benefits to funding - if the trust runs low, coverage could be cut
- Make benefits vulnerable to inflation and usage spikes
How Did We Get Here?
Health employer negotiators have consistently told nurses that benefits make up an ever-growing share of total compensation costs. For over 10 years, they have come to the bargaining table with the message that rising benefits costs are a serious issue.
2014 – 2019
- HEABC proposed moving nurses into a joint benefits trust (JBT) arrangement that would share the risk of increased benefits costs 50/50 between health employers and the union
- BCNU did not agree to a JBT, and instead negotiated Appendix U, which established a joint committee to explore cost savings without sacrificing our acquired gains.
- Other health sector unions did enter into JBT arrangements during this round of bargaining
2019 – 2022
- HEABC once again proposed a JBT and, again, BCNU did not agree.
- Instead, the parties agreed to Appendix U.1 which set out two potential options to contain rising benefit costs:
- capping massage therapy reimbursement, or
- the creation of an enhanced flex benefit account
2022 – 2025
- The parties agreed to extend the implementation deadline of Appendix U.1 to Jan. 1, 2026, with no changes to our current benefits
- In addition, a one-time, $60-million fund was successfully negotiated with the Ministry of Health in April 2023 to support nurses’ mental health and wellness