The province has reached a tentative two-year deal that will give B.C.s 32,000 registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses a slight wage increase. Additional nurses will also be hired under the deal.
Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, speaking Wednesday at the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Victoria, said the agreement is both good for families and fiscally responsible.
This is the result of some very hard work on both sides of the table, MacDiarmid said.
The deal with nurses was reached within the governments co-operative gains mandate. It allows both sides to negotiate modest wage increases through gains in productivity or cost savings so that taxpayers dont have to pay more and services arent reduced.
Were very pleased to have gotten to this stage, MacDiarmid said. I certainly hope it will be ratified.
The contract addresses union members main concerns of providing safe patient care through safe staffing, enhancing job security and improving compensation, the B.C. Nurses union said in a statement.
Details of the deal, such as how much wages will increase and how many nurses will be hired, wont be released until it is ratified.
The tentative deal comes at a time when public sector negotiations have resulted in one-day strikes and job action.
ceharnett@timescolonist.com
