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By Corey Fischer
New Deal For Nurses

New Deal For Nurses

Jan 25, 2019 | 1:15 PM

Nurses in BC have ratified a new labour deal with the province.

The three year deal covers 44,000 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses working in hospitals, long term care, mental health, and other facilities.

“The agreement between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and the Health Employers’ Association of B.C. focuses on improving services for people and ensuring fair and affordable compensation,” says a news release.

The deal runs from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022 and includes general wage increases of 2% per year.

It also includes modernized staffing language that provides more certainty for employers and nurses, and improves continuity of patient care, along with improved language to clarify and streamline the process for staff to address professional practice challenges in the workplace

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The pact also includes wage premiums if employers don’t meet agreed-to-staffing levels.

Nurses will get an extra $5 an hour if they are working short on a unit or program, with 10 or fewer scheduled nurses.

The BC Nurses’ Union says 54 per cent of the 21-thousand ballots cast in a ratification vote supported the agreement.

by Corey Fischer

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What Matters

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17h ago