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Q&A CONTINUED
UNITING THE NURSING FAMILY
BC nurses now under one contract – across designations and sectors
F
ADVANCE POLL South Fraser Valley region community steward John Ginther and Langley Memorial Hospital full-time steward Carol Canuel are joined at the ballot box by BCNU President Gayle Duteil during April 7 regional meeting and bargaining report-out.
up to and including the May 10 deadline: at information sessions and union meetings conducted multiple times in every region until April 30, and at worksite polling stations from now until May 10.
OR BCNU’S OVER 9,000 LPNS, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS IN many ways both the beginning and the end. It is the beginning of a journey that, for the first time, sees the vast majority of BCNU LPNs united with RNs and RPNs not only in one union, but also in one provincial contract. It is also the end of a path that began in 2006, when LPNs first looked for improved representation. That path saw LPNs vote to join BCNU in 2012, and then become members of the Nurses’ Bargaining Association in 2013. LPNs were elected to BCNU Council in 2012 and 2014, and have played a critical role on our provincial bargaining committee and representing LPNs covered by independent agreements. Upon ratification, LPNs will no longer be bound by the old Facilities and
NEW LEVELS AND CATEGORIES Nursing jobs will now be categorized into six levels and four job groups: • Community Health Activities (CH) • Direct Patient/Client/Resident Care Activities (DC) • Educational Activities (ED) • Program and Service Activities (PS) CLASSIFICATIONS CH
DC
Level 1 (LPN)*
LPN1
LPN1
Level 2 (LPN)
LPN2
LPN2
Level 3 (RN/RPN)**
CH1
DC1
Level 4 (RN/RPN)
CH2A/CH2B
DC2A/DC2B
ED2
PS2
Level 5 (RN/RPN)
CH3
DC3
ED3
PS3
Level 6 (RN/RPN)
CH4A/CH4B
DC4
ED4
Where can I vote? Eligible members can vote at any BCNU information session or union meeting. You can also vote at polling stations until May 10 if they are set up at your worksite. Check bcnu.org and click on News and Events, then the Events Calendar where you can select your region to get the most current voting information.
How do I get more information on upcoming meetings and where to vote? For more information on where and when you can vote, please visit bcnu.org and click on News and Events, then the Events Calendar where you can select your region. Check back frequently for the latest information or contact your regional chair. update
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ED
PS
LPN2 PS1
* To include LPN Orthopedic Technologists (previously FBA SA25). ** To include Licensed Graduate Nurses, who are defined by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia as “nurses granted LGN registration in BC prior to Oct. 1, 1990. An LGN registrant may perform or provide services as if he or she is a registered nurse registrant.” Effective April 1, 2016, LPNs who receive the Operating Room (previously FBA SA29) wage rate will be grandparented. In future, a qualification differential will be equally applied to all nurses in accordance with Article 53.01.
4/25/2016 11:49:22 AM