BCNU Rallies in Prince George as Mediation Adjourns, Calls on Northern Health to End Intimidation of Nurses

The BC Nurses' Union is rallying today alongside nurses, labour leaders, elected officials and community supporters in Prince George, calling on Northern Health to immediately end the intimidation and retaliation nurses continue to face for participating in lawful job action.

The rally comes as mediation between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of BC has been adjourned until Tuesday, allowing parties time to assess discussions held over the past four days and consider the path forward.

"We've had four productive days of mediation, and while it's too early to know whether we'll reach an agreement, we do feel heard," said BCNU President Adriane Gear. "We're hopeful the conversations will continue moving us toward a negotiated settlement when mediation resumes next week."

With mediation adjourned, Gear said it was important to be in Prince George standing alongside Northern Health nurses.

Since job action began on July 2, BCNU has received more nearly 4,500 reports of intimidation, coercion and interference from nurses across British Columbia. Nearly one-quarter of those reports have come from nurses working in Northern Health, despite the health authority representing only a fraction of the province's nursing workforce.

"The number of reports coming from Northern Health is deeply concerning and points to a serious problem that must be addressed," said Gear. "No nurse should be threatened, intimidated or retaliated against for exercising their legal right to participate in job action.”

BCNU interim northeast Regional Council Member Raelene Stevenson said the dispute extends far beyond the current round of bargaining.

"Our members are standing up for safe, sustainable workplaces because they know the current system isn't working," she said. "Since job action began, health authorities have continued relying on overtime to keep the system running instead of addressing the staffing crisis. Nurses cannot continue carrying a health-care system that's dependent on excessive overtime and goodwill."

BCNU says it remains committed to reaching a negotiated agreement through mediation while continuing to advocate for nurses facing intimidation in their workplaces.

"Nurses don't want to be on picket lines or at rallies," said Gear. "They want to be caring for patients. That's why we're hopeful mediation can continue making progress when discussions resume next week. Until then, we'll continue standing with nurses across British Columbia and defending their right to be treated with dignity and respect."  

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