UPDATE MAGAZINE February/March 2015
fully negotiated wage increases of 5.25 percent for RNs, 4.5 percent for care aides, and 4 percent for the other classifications, bringing them to less than a dollar short of the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and Facilities Bargaining Association provincial collective agreements.
“I’m feeling good about this – in this hard economic climate it’s not so easy to get a good contract.” CHRISTINE TRUDEN
But Truden remains modest about her group’s accomplishments. “We realized that our expectations couldn’t be as high as those in the acute care sector, but I’m very glad we were able to get the 5.25 percent raise for the nurses because they were really quite far behind, and it’s really hard to get them to come and work for us with these kinds of wages.” Truden is also optimistic that new management will make her workplace more attractive. “The old manager is retiring
at the end of the month,” she notes. “I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about the new manager, so hopefully things will go a lot smoother than they have for past three years.” Other highlights of the new Prince George Hospice contract include parity with the NBA contract vacation grid resulting in a one week increase in vacation entitlement for half of the members; responsibility pay for RNs that will help with recruitment into the current vacancies at the site; an increase in vision care from $350 to $600 per 24 months and an increase from $50 to $125 per year for eye exam coverage; an increase in the employer’s portion of employee extended health care premium costs, from 60 percent on the date of ratification to 90 percent over the remaining two years; and an increase to employer-paid RRSP contributions, from 4 percent to 6 percent over two years. “It’s a good start,” said care aide Harriet Watson on the day of the ratification vote. “I’m happy with the new vacation language and wage increase.” Steward and bargaining committee member Cynthia Marquez agrees that the new contract will make it easier to attract other nurses. “Right now we are so near to what nurses under the provincial contract are getting; I’m so happy with everything that’s in there.” update
BCNU STAFF NEWS THE NEW YEAR HAS ALREADY brought fond farewells for many long-serving BCNU staff members. In January the union’s servicing department saw the retirement of both of its senior labour relations officers, Christine Bounsall and Frank Morgan. Christine worked in longterm care for many years and was an active steward before coming to work for the union. She began as a temporary labour relations officer in 1992 and became a regular employee in 1994. Christine was very active in the union’s organizing and servicing departments, and became a servicing coordinator in 2010. Frank worked in child psychiatry at BC Children’s Hospital. An active member and steward, he was involved in organizing and servicing in his role as a labour relations officer. Frank headed up BCNU’s organizing department and became a servicing coordinator in 2010. BCNU also said goodbye to Farida Jessa this year. Farida came to BCNU in 1993. She was known to all staff and
Farida Jessa
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visitors in her receptionist position that she assumed in 2009. Prior to this she worked as a servicing secretary. Retirement has also come for Gwen Mackinnon of BCNU’s education department. Gwen began working as an education officer in 1994. She served as acting department coordinator many times over the years prior to being awarded the position in 2014. Late last year BCNU also said goodbye to Doreen Plouffe. Doreen began working as an organizer in 2009. As an LPN, Doreen played an important role in working to unite all of BC’s nurses in one union. The BCNU thanks all of these staff members for their years of dedication and service to BC’s nurses. update
Christine Bounsall and Frank Morgan
Gwen Mackinnon
Doreen Plouffe