What You Need to Know: NBA Impasse

Your NBA bargaining committee and the HSA Board of Directors have determined that an official strike vote will be taken soon. 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 refused to offer nurses 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 in the next few weeks. All members will be sent voting credentials via email when voting begins. The email with your voting credentials will come from Simply Voting, not HSA, and will include your member ID, 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 a personal email address. If you are concerned that we may not have your personal email address, please reach out by email to info [at] hsabc.org as soon as possible.

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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