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BC Nurses’ Union president Adriane Gear speaks as union members picket outside Surrey Memorial Hospital, in Surrey, B.C., July 9. Her comments came as the BC Nurses’ Union and Health Employers Association of BC were scheduled to have their first formal session with two veteran mediators in Vancouver.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
The president of a union representing 60,000 nurses in B.C. said Tuesday there had been no indication the province was willing to move off its pay mandate in their labour dispute, somewhat dampening optimism as mediation got underway.
Adriane Gear’s comments came as the BC Nurses’ Union and Health Employers Association of BC were scheduled to have their first formal session with two veteran mediators in Vancouver, after an initial meeting on Monday.
Gear said she did not know what to expect from the mediated talks.
“The part that sort of makes me pause — and our bargaining team — is that there’s certainly not been any indication that government’s moving to move off their imposed mandate,” she said.
B.C. nurses to end picketing, begin mediation talks
“Both mediators are highly respected and skilled, and we’re going to put our best foot forward — I’m literally in a cab heading there now as my team is already there … and we are going to do our best to see if we can get some place.”
The government’s mandate for public-sector bargaining includes an offer of a 12 per cent pay increase over four years.
Gear had returned to Vancouver for the mediated talks from Victoria, where she had spoken at a picket line outside Royal Jubilee Hospital.
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A picket line was put up at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital earlier Monday, while pickets were set up in Vancouver and Surrey last week.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Nurses have complained of staffing shortages and deteriorating workplace safety conditions, with job action that began earlier this month involving picketing and the refusal of overtime and non-nursing duties.
Gear had said Monday the union would end the picketing in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, a move she described as a “good-faith gesture” during the mediation process.
The health employers’ association confirmed in a statement the parties were engaged in mediation, but it would not comment further.
The Health Ministry has said it would not release any details of the talks “out of respect for the mediation process.”
People should not hesitate to seek emergency or urgent care, even when job action was taking place, the statement added.