B.C. nurses expand picket lines to Vancouver Island
BC nurses job action expands in Victoria as talks stall and safety concerns rise See how picket lines may affect care, appointments, and hospital services this week
British Columbia nurses expanded job action on Sunday by setting up new picket lines outside Victoria General Hospital in Victoria.
The British Columbia Nurses' Union says the move comes after members rejected a tentative contract deal last month and as negotiations with the province remain stalled. The province recently appointed mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers in an effort to help resolve the dispute.
Union leaders say the action is aimed at drawing attention to workplace safety, staffing pressures, pay, and burnout. The union has already staged picket lines in Vancouver and Surrey, and plans further action on Vancouver Island this week. Island Health says emergency care will continue at essentialservice levels, although some appointments and nonurgent surgeries may be postponed.