RNs, LPNs at Surrey long term care facility join BCGEU

More than 160 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and care aides at a Christian retirement community in Surrey have voted to join the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to make their workplace better.

The health care workers are employed at Elim Village-a new complex that integrates independent and assisted living with residential care.

"This is an important win for Elim workers and we are proud that they have chosen BCGEU as the best union to deal with their priority issues," says union president Darryl Walker.

"They joined our ranks to have their priority issues like wages, benefits, shift scheduling and fairness in the workplace addressed," Walker says.

The next step for the care givers is to form a negotiating committee, develop bargaining proposals and then begin talks with their employer for a first contract.

So far this year 1,300-plus workers have joined BCGEU. "We are doing more than any other union in the province to bring the benefits of union membership to the many B.C. workers who want to join," says Walker.

BCGEU represents 65,000 members in the public and private sectors, including 6,500 who live or work in Surrey.