Terrace nurses added thelr voices to a province-wide protest against the lack of progress
In bargaining between the BCNU and the HLRA during a recent rally at Mills Memorial
Hospital. Negotiations are presently being subjected to mediation and an Industrial in-

quiry.

Nurses hold rally

_ TERRACE — Members

of both the B.C. Nurses’
Union (BCNU) and the
Health Sciences Associa-
tion (HSA) employed at
Mills Memorial Hospital
continue to await the
outcome of protracted
contract talks in Van-
couver with the Health
Labor Relations Asso-
ciation (HLRA). As the
bargaining drags on,
nurses at the local
hospital recently held a
noon-hour rally to air
their views on contract
issues.

by Michael Kelly

There has been little
movement on either side
of the bargaining table
since talks began be-
tween the BCNU and the
HLRA. The last contract
expired in March 1985,
and negotiations stalled
in April 1986. Following
a strike vote which
received approval by 91
percent of the provincial
membership, the talks
were put into mediation
and an industrial enquiry
was launched. Although
strike notice was served
in July on hospitals
throughout B.C., union
representatives have
stated that withdrawal of
- services will not be con-
sidered except as a last
resort.

Pamela Pilling, repre-
senting the Terrace local
of the BCNU, said that
the recent rally at Mills
Memorial was intended
to keep the attention of
both the public and the
hospital administration
focused on the negotia-
tions. Pilling stated that
there is no way of know-
ing how long the media-
tion and industrial en-
quiry procedures will
continue. She also con-
firmed that as yet there
are no plans for a strike
or any other job action
which would affect
delivery of health care
services. Nurses at Mills
Memorial have recently
been appearing for work
in casual dress rather
than uniforms as a visual

gesture of protest.

The issues which are in
dispute primarily involve
wages and working con-
ditions. The BCNU is
seeking closer parity with
wages in other provinces,
and the HLRA offer of
zero, one and two per-
cent over three years has
been rejected. Staff
shortages are also a mat-
ter of concern, with the
BCNU claiming that its
members have excessive
workloads and that the
overall health care
system in B.C. is de-
teriorating due to nurs-
ing staff vacancies in the
province’s hospitals.

The Health Sciences
Association is a union
representing more than
50 different professions
in B.C. hospitals includ-
ing laboratory technolo-
gists, physiotherapists,
dietitians, radiolo-
gists, psychologists and
psychiatric nurses. The
HSA contract with the
HLRA expired in March
1986, but a strike notice
served by the union in
July was immediately
countered with a 90-day
‘‘cooling-off’’. period
imposed by Labor
Minister Terry Segarty.

This measure can only be
invoked under circum-
stances which constitute
‘imminent danger to life
or public health’, and
the HSA has countered it
with a court appeal.
Steve Waddell, com-
munications officer for
the HSA, said that the
union is bargaining for

restoration of parity with

the rest of Canada in
both wages and working
conditions. Waddell
stated that the 5,500
members of the HSA
have fallen behind their
counterparts in other
parts of the country since
the introduction of the
Compensation Stabiliza-
tion Board in 1982,
“This government in-
volvement has signifi-
cantly distorted the labor
market,’’ he said.
“We're now about 14
percent behind everyone
else, and there are
serious staff shortages in
B.C. hospitals.’? Wad-
dell called the cooling-
off period a ‘‘drastic
measure’’, and he added
that by the time the
period has expired the
HSA’s strike mandate
will be over and another
province-wide ‘vote will

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. | ; Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 13, 1986 3
| Health care professionals
protest lengthy negotiations

B.C. nurses have been without a contract for nearly eighteen months. At a recent
demonstration in front of Mills Memorlal Hospital, a local BCNU representative called on
the HLRA to “negotiate fairly and preserve nursing in this province.”

have to be taken. |
The HLRA'’s offer to

the HSA is the same

zero, one and two

package offered to the
BCNU, and the HSA has .

also rejected it.

‘Shelley Palmer, the
HSA steward at Mills
Memorial, stated recent-
ly that the union
represents 30 employees
in eight professions at
the local hospital.

Palmer said that no job -}

action is planned at the
present time. ‘‘Our
members are anxious for
a settlement, but we
don’t want to interfere
with the negotiations,’’
she said.

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Terrace Interiors-
Paint for flag stones
Buster Patierson-
Falling of trees
Stan Kerr-

Digging out stumps
John Morgan
Surveying

Acklands Ltd-
Chain

A Special hanks

In July, The Rotary Club of Terrace’s project was to rebuild and bring up
to standard the Mills Memorial Hospital's Heliport.

The new Heliport is considered to be one of the best in B.C. meeting
allot the requirements set down by the Department of Transport for safety

The Heli-project managed by Rotarian Joe Whitney came in underbudget
due to the tremendous support from local business, individuals and club

We would like to thank the following for their donations and service:

he Terrace Rotary Cb

ee

Cedar River Timber- Dept. of Highways-

Hyab Truck Cleaning of field
Daves Plumbing and Heating- Terrace Builders:
Directional arrows Supplies

Glacier Concrete- Okanagan Helicopters-
Sand and concrete Helicopler service
Skeena Aulo Metal Shop- Terrace Pre Cut:
Priming and painting arrows Fiat deck truck

District of Terrace-
Turfing for flag stones