Illegal job action ends
In the wake of the British Columbia government’s imposed contract settlement, hundreds of nurses walked off the job August 8. However, they were back at work the following day and hospitals have resumed their normal service levels.
The union representing the nurses urged them to return when the Health Employers Association obtained a court order to force them to stop their illegal job action.
The imposed settlement gives nurses a 23 per cent wage increase over three years. In 2002, a top-paid nurse will receive $32.91 an hour, up from $26.50 an hour. The union originally asked for $38 an hour.
The government announced that, in order to alleviate the problems caused by a shortage of nurses in the province, it will speed up the landed immigrant status process for 200 qualified foreign health care workers each year.
The union representing the nurses urged them to return when the Health Employers Association obtained a court order to force them to stop their illegal job action.
The imposed settlement gives nurses a 23 per cent wage increase over three years. In 2002, a top-paid nurse will receive $32.91 an hour, up from $26.50 an hour. The union originally asked for $38 an hour.
The government announced that, in order to alleviate the problems caused by a shortage of nurses in the province, it will speed up the landed immigrant status process for 200 qualified foreign health care workers each year.
