Court ruling confirms BCNU's right to unite nurses in one union

August 21, 2013

The BCNU welcomes today's B.C. Supreme Court judgment upholding a B.C. Labour Relations Board decision that allowed the nurses' union the right to organize LPNs across the province.

The May 2012 LRB ruling dismissed objections by the Hospital Employees' Union, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers, who had opposed BCNU's applications to represent the over 7200 licensed practical nurses employed by the province's six health authorities. The LRB ruled that LPNs employed in health authorities were appropriate units for collective bargaining and ordered a mail ballot representation vote to proceed. LPNs in all six health authorities voted to join the BCNU.

Today's B.C. Supreme Court judgment dismisses the HEU and BCGEU petitions to overturn the LRB ruling, and confirms BCNU's position that LPNs have the right to unite with other nurses in order to do more for their patients and their profession.