10 LPNs vote
LPNs win the right to vote to join BCNU
Nurses were jubilant as Labour Board ordered vote. Ballots had to be mailed back to the LRB, post-marked no later than June 25, 2012
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LPNs Rosita Nadela, at left, Michael Young and Marlene Goertzen are voting yes.
n a resounding victory for the nursing profession and for the hundreds of Licensed Practical Nurses who campaigned for years to join BCNU, the BC Labour Relations Board ordered union representation votes for approximately 7,000 LPNs directly employed by five health authorities and Providence Health Care. The ruling came on May 9 and the Board mailed ballots to eligible LPNs on May 28. To be included in the final count, LPNs had to mail their ballots back to the LRB, post-marked no later than June 25. The Labour Board must receive all ballots no later than July 3.
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Following the landmark LRB decision, LPNs wasted no time expressing their jubilation. “I felt fantastic when I heard the news,” said LPN Marlene Goertzen. “We worked hard talking to hundreds of LPNs about joining BCNU. As long as LPNs stay in support worker unions, we will never get the professional workplace representation we need.” “When the vote was called I felt very excited,” said LPN Rosita Nadela. “I will feel very secure at BCNU because in a nurses’ union LPNs will get strong contracts and there are no more roll-backs in bargaining.” Michael Young, an LPN from Richmond Hospital, said: “I was very relieved to hear the Labour Board had called the LPN vote. When the ballots are counted and LPNs move to BCNU we will have a much stronger voice because we’ve never had a voice in our current unions.” Others remarked on the great timing of the announcement because it came in the middle of Nursing Week. Current BCNU members joined the applause and renewed their welcome to LPNs. “Having all nurses in the same union is long overdue,” said Andrea Rauh, a BCNU steward at St. Paul’s Hospital. Meghan Friesen, also from St. Paul’s and a member of the provincial bargaining committee, agreed. “Now is the time to bring all nurses together,” she said. According to Richmond Hospital RN and steward Sara Johl: “I’m welcoming LPNs to BCNU because they deserve to have workplace stewards who are nurses. Only nurses really understand nursing practice.” “LPNs are an integral part of the nursing team,” added BCNU member Keith Laughton, a steward at Wrinch Memorial Hospital in Hazelton. “It only makes sense that we’re in solidarity with each other for our common goal of safe, high-quality patient care.” Tina Coletti, West Kootenay regional chair, said: “Patients are our first priority. Let’s work together, advocate together and be together in the same union.” Separate votes were being held in each of the five health authorities and Providence Health Care. They will be counted separately. Whichever union wins the major-
25/06/2012 5:05:11 PM