Update: BCNU bargaining at provincial jails
Published by Patrick August 14th, 2006 in House of Labour Tags: bcnu, strike.updated August 23: A tentative agreement has been reached, and all job action has ceased, pending ratification.
The BCNU Members of Joye Morris Health Services Inc. voted across the Province July 27, 2006, 94% in favour of strike. BCNU represents the members who work in the Health Centres at ten Provincial Jails operated by the private contractor, Joye Morris.
The two parties have been in negotiations to secure a renewal collective agreement since May 1, 2006. The current collective agreement expired on March 31, 2006.
Key concerns include:
- Recruitment and retention of Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Registered Nurses
- Wages and STIIP Plan (Sick Plan)
- There will be no settlement until members have access to an adequate Sick Plan and until wages are adequately addressed.
The Employer applied for Mediation of the dispute by the Labour Relations Board and the parties are currently in mediation. BCNU is working hard to resolve the outstanding issues in order to prevent disruption at the jails.
Limited progress has been made to date and BCNU issued 72 Hour Strike Notice on August 10th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. If no significant progress has been made by 4 p.m. today (August 11th, 2006), BCNU will be asking the Mediator to book out and serving a further 72 Hour Strike Notice. Essential services for BCNU are currently being negotiated. BCNU will endeavour to give as much notice as possible to the affected Unions in the event job action affecting their members occurs.