LPNs in BCGEU - News update

Nurses join the BCGEU

Health care workers at Elim Village, a care facility in Surrey, have voted to join BCGEU to make their workplace better.

The workers at Elim Village include 10 Registered Nurses and approximately 30 LPNs, who were given the option of joining the Nurses' Union, but chose to join the rest of their colleagues as BCGEU members instead.

"We're honoured that these workers have chosen BCGEU to help them make their workplace better," says union president Darryl Walker. "They joined to ensure they have a voice in their workplace, and we look forward to working with them."

Nurses' union pledge: Truth or spin?

The nurses' union is spending tens of thousands of dollars advertizing to try and convince LPNs in other unions to join them. The nurses' union is promising to initiate the election of an all-LPN bargaining committee. The truth? LPNs will still be covered by the same collective agreement and the same bargaining process that they have with the BCGEU. In fact, the nurses' union is now finally admitting that you won't automatically be covered by the Nurses' Bargaining Association - they will have to ask government for permission-and that permission may not be granted.

The nurses' union has been attacking BCGEU and other health care unions for having "accepted" wage rollbacks in 2004 bargaining. The truth? The Liberal government imposed the cuts. The BCNU was at the same bargaining table we were. Nurses' union members under the Facilities' Agreement took the same cuts that everyone else did under that legislated contract.

The nurses' union is promising to cut your dues. The truth? Their dues are higher than those of BCGEU. They promise an immediate switch to BCNU dues, a move that will actually increase your dues from BCGEU's rate of 1.85% to 2%. Sure, they want you to switch - but it'll cost you. In fact, the BCNU has spent around $1 million on their raid so far. Will their dues have to go up to pay for their ill-advised campaign?