What You Need to Know: NBA Strike Vote

You deserve a fair deal – we need a “yes” vote to make that happen. 

Your NBA bargaining committee and the HSA Board of Directors have determined that an official strike vote will be taken on May 8 -11. All members belonging to the Nurses' Bargaining Association will be eligible to participate in the vote, which will be held online.

Despite other public sector bargaining associations securing an “enhanced wage mandate” — additional funding earmarked to address outstanding monetary issues — the employer has not confirmed that nurses will receive the full monetary package that has been provided to other unions. Specifically, while other public sector unions have been offered significant funds to address monetary issues, we have been offered 3% per year over 4 years for benefits, wages, premiums and all other monetary items combined.
 
Maintaining and improving benefits was the top priority identified by NBA members going into bargaining. The employer has refused to discuss benefits at the table, instead driving the issue before Arbitrator Vince Ready. As a result of the arbitration decision, which was reached with no discussion at the bargaining table, benefits will be changing for the worse effective January 1, 2027. This is a step backward for nurses who rely on these supports to stay healthy on the job. 
 
With your bargaining committee declaring an impasse after little meaningful movement at the table, both the bargaining committee and HSA Board of Directors have recommended a strike vote to fight for the care we provide and the conditions we deserve. 

A strong YES vote sends a clear message to the employer: we are united, we are serious, and we are not backing down on our top priorities: 

  • Benefits 
  • Wages
  • Retention
  • Overtime
  • Ratios Compliance

What does a strike vote mean?

Your union needs a strike vote to take any sort of job action, like an overtime ban, work to rule, or a rotating strike.

But right now, your bargaining committee is asking you for a strong strike vote because they need to send a clear message to the employer. A strong strike vote is a good way to show the employer that nurses stand united behind their bargaining committee.

HOW Does the STRIKE VOTE WORK?

The strike vote will be held online from 9:00 am (Pacific time) on Friday, May 8 to 9:00 pm (Pacific time) on Monday, May 11. All members will be sent voting credentials via email when voting begins. The email with your voting credentials will come from Simply Voting, a trusted independent voting platform used by HSA and other unions for elections and other important votes. Your voting credentials email will include your member ID, a secret password, and a link to access your ballot directly. 
 
You will not be able to vote if you have not provided the union with your personal email address. Take a second now to confirm that the union has your current personal email by using the member contact update form or by reaching out by email to info [at] hsabc.org.
 
A strike vote is one of the strongest tactics available in collective bargaining. Voting yes does not mean we are going on strike. It shows the employer that nurses are united, serious, and ready to defend what matters. A strong vote demonstrates collective strength and gives your bargaining committee a clear mandate moving forward. A strong vote creates real pressure at the table.

Learn more by joining telephone town halls 

 
You're invited to join one of two province-wide telephone town halls prior to the strike vote. These are a great opportunity to hear details from HSA President Sarah Kooner and your bargaining representatives, Nicole McIntosh and Colette Barker.  
 
Join us on:  

  • Wednesday, April 29 at 12:00 pm (Pacific time) or 
  • Thursday, May 7 at 8:00 pm (Pacific time) 

To join, simply answer your phone when it rings at the beginning of the meeting, join the audio stream online, or dial in. Information about the audio stream and dial in instructions have been sent to your personal email.

What COULD a strike look like?

A strike, also called job action, can take many forms. Often job action starts small and gradually expands to increase pressure on the employer. For example, it could start with something as small as a ban on overtime, expand to “work to rule” – where you don’t do duties not in your job description, and eventually expand to specific departments or worksites walking a picket line.

As nurses, we simply can’t all walk off the job. Even during a full strike, many members will go to work to provide essential services that are needed to keep British Columbians safe and healthy. Members who work essential services shifts are expected to help out with picketing at least one day per week.

Members who are not working essential services shifts are expected to perform job action, which usually means picketing. Your union pays you for time spent performing job action, at a rate of $18 hourly (up to $675 weekly). There are no deductions taken off job action pay, so you receive the full amount.

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