2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT

“BCNU is on a roll. We are gaining public support and getting the government's attention.”

Since becoming BCNU's vice president in February 2022, it has been exciting to participate in rallies large and small around the province, and to raise people's awareness of the critical nursing shortage and its impact on patient care.

As the union's provincial lobby coordinator, I've helped empower members to use their voices, meet their MLAs and discuss nurses' concerns. Together, we've gathered thousands of postcards and channeled the support of people in our communities who called on their MLA to take action for an end to the nursing shortage. More recently, we've initiated local emergency room campaigns in the hardest-hit regions of the province. All these actions raise public awareness and apply pressure on decision makers. I want to thank BCNU's regional lobby coordinators for leading this work. And I extend a sincere “thank you” to all those members who took the time to engage with me directly and for sharing your experiences, your fears, and your hopes for a better future in nursing.

It is a privilege to serve as the chairperson of BCNU's human rights and equity committee. The committee is composed of the chairs and council liaisons of our four human rights and equity caucuses and two networks. The committee's efforts inform the work of our union as we strive to make our organization safer and more inclusive. We also remain committed to creating just and equitable workplaces for nurses, health-care workers, patients and their loved ones. I am honoured to work with this exceptional community of activists and the caucuses and networks they represent.

After 13 years, BCNU has joined the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. Together, we and other provincial nurses' unions are 250,000 strong and united! As your vice president, I hold one of two BCNU seats on CFNU's National Executive Board. This opportunity allows our union to participate in coordinated pan-Canadian actions to address issues most import ant to the nursing profession, such as the ongoing critical nursing shortage, the use of mandatory overtime and agency nurses, and the threat of health-care privatization.

Effective governance is also a priority.I chaired BCNU's Provincial Executive Committee and Council meetings while provincial contract negotiations were tak- ing place, and I am committed to improving the functioning of Council and the various committees and working groups that I serve on.

This year is also an election year, and plans are underway to ensure that incoming regional council members have appropriate onboarding and are provided with governance and leadership training.

BCNU is on a roll. We are gaining public support and getting the government's attention. This means it's more important than ever for members and activists to remain engaged and participate in political action activities that highlight the contribution nurses make to the health-care system.

“Working together, we can accomplish extraordinary things and make a real difference in the lives of our members.”

As a woman who immigrated to Canada, I have faced a multitude of obstacles throughout my life, things that have challenged me mentally and physically. I would not have been able to pursue a nursing career if it wasn't for the unwavering support and sacrifices of so many, including my mother who was always there to listen and offer encouragement. During the trying times, my husband and my children were very supportive and my classmates at Douglas College were also a crucial support system when I felt like giving up.

Now, as your Executive Councillor for OH&S and Mental Health, I know that supporting and encouraging one another is the key to our success. Nurses work in demanding and stressful environments that take a toll on our physical and mental health. That's why occupational health and safety measures, such as proper ergonomics, personal protective equipment, and infection control protocols, are necessary to ensure we can perform our duties safely, without risk of injury or illness.

Mental health supports are equally important. Nurses experience high levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. By prioritizing mental health, we can help each other thrive in our roles, provide bet- ter care for patients and create a positive and supportive work environment.

Educating members has been my primary objective to help realize the workplaces we deserve. Over the past year, I've been focused on helping Joint Occupational Health and Safety committee representatives excel in their roles. I want them to understand they can make significant contributions to promoting workplace health and safety. The road ahead will be challenging, but I am committed to supporting them every step of the way.

The phrase “united we stand, divided we fall” is a guiding principle that's proved true throughout the history of our union. So many of our members are at the breaking point, and feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and downtrodden. But we came together to fight for recognition, respect, and fair compensation during the recent round of Nurses' Bargaining Association contract negotiations. Despite the obstacles, we found the strength to unite and focus on a common goal: securing a good NBA collective agreement. We set aside our differences, focused on the task at hand and fought for what we believed in.

Together, we are strong, and together, we are unstoppable. The task now is to continue working together so that we can accomplish extraordinary things and make a real difference in the lives of our members.

I am grateful for the support of members in enabling me to achieve my goals so far. And as your executive councillor, my ongoing mission is to encourage and sup- port all of our members to achieve greatness. Together we are strong. Together we are unstoppable.

“When we stand united, we can do remarkable things and overcome even the most challenging obstacles.”

What a remarkable time we've been living through. Our union has faced many challenges, but we have not let them stop us, and together we continue to accomplish so much.

In 2022, members welcomed each other again at many face-to-face events following more than two years of COVID-19 public health restrictions. Highlights include our May rally at the Victoria legislature during National Nursing Week, October's provincial bargaining conference, our annual convention in November, and the human rights and equity conference later that month.

We also engaged with thousands of our members at the many town halls and mini regionals we organized. It is critical that members' voices are heard and that you feel represented. Together, we are truly a force to be reckoned with. We can make things better for each other and for our profession, and we do that by working together.

That's one reason I've been focused on build- ing relationships with external organizations and sister unions. It's important to have a strong network of allies who share a commitment to our core values. So, I'm proud to have led BCNU in joining the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. We are now part of a network of over 250,000 unionized nurses that promotes our profession on the national level and works tirelessly to protect the quality of health care for our patients and our universal public healthcare system.

Despite the challenges of the past few years, we've always kept our members' needs front and center. We want to make sure you have better working conditions, safe staffing levels, and respect from your employer. There is no health-care system without you – the nurses. You are vital to keeping the system running.

We are listening to you. Ahead of negotiations for a new Nurses' Bargaining Association provincial collective agreement, members we polled told us that they would not accept any concessions – and we did not.

You told us that improved compensation was your top priority, and we delivered record-setting gains that are now the envy of nurses across Canada. This contract shows our members that they are respected, supported, and valued.

In previous rounds of bargaining, we also put our trust in the system and hoped that asking for more nurses would be enough. This time, we achieved a breakthrough on staffing ratios. In the years ahead, mandatory minimum nurse-patient ratios will be the new standard in your workplace, enabling you to deliver consistent and safe patient care. This agreement lays the groundwork needed to help retain nurses in the system today and recruit the nurses we will need in the future.

But it's not just up to BCNU to create change. As we look to the future, I want each and every one of you to know you have the power to join with others in your union and advocate for your rights. We have resources to help you enhance your work experience and help you achieve that work-life balance we're all striving for. It's possible, and we want to help you get there.

Here we are in 2023. What I have learned this past year is that there is not enough time in the day to accomplish everything you want. Trying to keep on top of the high volume of emails has been challenging, and I humbly apologize if I missed a message or did not respond. Self-care is something that many of us struggle with, and I am no exception.

When I think about the nursing profession, I'm reminded of all the amazing opportunities that come with it. You can advance in your career in so many directions, and that's something to be proud of.

I'm so grateful to be part of this remarkable union, and I'm honoured to represent our over 48,000 members across BC. You are respected leaders in your profession, and I'm reminded of the power we hold when we come together and work toward our common goals.

When we stand united, we can do remarkable things and overcome even the most challenging obstacles. We truly can make a difference when we set aside our differences and stand shoulder-to-shoulder. So, let's continue to strive for unity and strength in our lives and communities. Together, we can be truly unstoppable.

"I’m proud to work for the nurses of BC and look forward to achieving more together in the year ahead."

Since joining the BCNU in January 2022, both the challenges and rewards of the job have been immense. I arrived as the organization was undergoing a period of transition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and following significant leader- ship changes. I could see that our members continued to suffer through difficult work- ing conditions that were both mentally and physically taxing.

We began 2022 by embracing change and doing things differently. That meant engag- ing in collective dialogue with the elected leadership and staff, and then listening to our members and activists. Change is seldom easy, and our execution may not have been perfect, but I want every mem- ber to know that all we have achieved in the past year and a half has been rooted in a commitment to transparency and fighting for what is right.

It's important to reflect on the many successes we've achieved in this time. We've enhanced member and steward engagement through various town halls and regional outreach events, reignited grass- roots activism through community-based public rallies and worksite ER campaigns, achieved several significant WorkSafeBC and labour relations wins, and successfully executed our two largest member events: the provincial bargaining conference and annual convention. Both were held within a month of each other and made possible thanks to the tremendous work of our staff and elected officials.

We've also re-established relationships with other health-care unions and with the government to ensure nurses have a voice on key provincial issues. Rejoining the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions was an important highlight of 2022. Our members' voices will now be stronger as they unite with those of other nurses across the country.

As the chief negotiator for the Nurses' Bargaining Association, securing a new provincial collective agreement was my top priority this year. We wanted a contract that addressed nurses' retention and recruit- ment concerns through meaningful wage and premium increases. Bargaining did not begin until late 2022. But waiting was the right decision, and provided the time we needed to engage with members and build public support for nurses through public advertising, rallies, and putting pressure on the government before talks opened.

Our ratified contract has secured record investments in nurses and also champions a genuine commitment to truth and reconciliation work and strengthens the principles of diversity, inclusivity and equity.

We also reached a historic agreement with the government that means BC will be the first province in Canada to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, a staffing model to address the workload that BCNU had been advocating for over 25 years.

These many achievements are a testament to the efforts and commitment of all of the individuals who make up our union: BCNU Council and the Provincial Executive Committee, the regional executive teams, hundreds of stewards and activists, our dedicated staff and over 48,000 members. Thank you all for your dedication and honesty in championing our members' best interests.

I look forward to the year ahead and am excited about what we can achieve when we unite together in solidarity.

"Workers who rise together to improve their working conditions, wages and benefits are unstoppable."

Being “unstoppable together” is about taking collective action to achieve our goals. This can involve letter-writing campaigns, pickets, strikes and many other kinds of job action. We've seen that collective action recently with our ‘Help BC Nurses' postcard campaign, in rallies around the province, and our lobbying of elected officials to push for real improvements to our working lives.

Solidarity is crucial for achieving significant victories in the face of employer opposition. When nurses are divided, they are weaker and more vulnerable to employer exploitation. Unions must also recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion. We have a long history of fighting for the rights of marginalized groups, including women, people of colour, Indigenous workers, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and workers with disabilities. When unions recognize the unique challenges faced by different groups of workers, they become stronger and more effective. I am proud that BCNU has chosen to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion to become a leader in this space.

Educating members is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. As BCNU Executive Councillor for pensions, I continue to help members improve their financial literacy and better understand how their pensions work. This year, we deliv- ered the very first Young Nurses' Network financial literacy event where I was able to provide pension education to our younger members.

A nurse's pension plan is crucial for their financial security in retirement, and a reliable source of income allows retired nurses to maintain a comfortable standard of living while meeting their financial obligations. I'm happy to report that we have now completed the pension governance review that was negotiated as part of the previous provincial collective agreement, and that BCNU members will remain part of the Municipal Pension Plan, which is strong, well-funded and reliable.

Last year I met with BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie. In my role as the union's Executive Councillor for senior's health, we discussed how we can work together to advocate for improvements to seniors care in BC.

In 2022, BCNU member Harwinder Sandhu was named BC's Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-term Care, and we are working together to advocate for improved seniors' care and working conditions for nurses in the long-term care sector. We continue to collaborate with several seniors' advocacy groups to push for the implementation of national standards in long-term care. BCNU's recent negotiation of minimum nurse-patient ratios will also go a long way to improve staffing in the sector.

Let's continue to be unstoppable by stand- ing together in solidarity, taking collective action, promoting inclusivity, engaging in democratic decision-making, and educating each other. If we do these things we will achieve our goals and ultimately improve the working conditions, wages, and benefits of all our members.

“‘Sarbat Da Bhalla'– for the welfare and protection of all.”

As a member of the Sikh nation, the principle of Sarbat Da Bhalla guides my life. It is an essential part of who I am, and what I strive to be – both personally and professionally. I am grateful to both individual members and BCNU as an organization for providing me with the opportunity to live these values every day in my professional life.

My first year as BCNU's chief operating officer has been a busy one. The volume of work and projects has kept the operations team at BCNU extremely engaged. In addition to being responsible for day-to-day operations, our teams were coordinating regional and provincial bargaining conferences, two conventions and the Nurses' Bargaining Association contract ratification vote.

As COO, I enjoyed having the privilege of attending regional meetings and various steward and member engagement sessions where I provided insights into BCNU's operations, explained the services the union provides and showed members how their dues support activities that benefit nurses across the province.

My top priority in 2022 was to unequivocally move our organization toward taking action on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Without an accountable commitment to DEI, our organization's culture, and by extension everything we do and communicate, is incomplete. I'm committed to ensuring that BCNU continuously strives to better include all members and staff, especially those who have had to overcome immense hurdles to achieve equity. Our DEI flagship project is called IDEA: Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity = Action. This year we established a staff committee and a Council working group to address various DEI implementation objectives.

With the goal of delivering better services to our membership, I was excited to work with staff and our Council Human Resources Committee to develop a transparent and accountable professional development and assessment system. We are making progress by expanding our existing systems to ensure staff have the feedback, resources, and timely support they need to achieve success at BCNU. The roles of COO and CEO were the first to go through this new process, and I am pleased to say these reviews are complete. Similar assessments of the position of president and other provincial executive committee positions are now underway.

So much continues to change all around us. But as we move into 2023, my primary goal is to ensure that BCNU is a collaborative space that adheres to the values of DEI and is available to all members and staff.

“We are one union, united. And when we organize, invest, and lead with our core values, we are unstoppable.”

As long as we're united, and as long as we continue to organize, invest, and lead with our values, we'll be unstoppable.” This quote from former US Secretary of Labor Tom Perez encapsulates the spirit of our union. A belief in our shared passion and dedication to our profession is what makes us strong.

I am proud to see our union build capacity and continue to provide opportunities for all members. Supporting nurses with bursaries and providing them with funds when they are struggling remains a top priority.

We ended the fiscal year with a budget surplus. I remain committed to ensuring BCNU is financially responsible with members' dues and uses them to effectively address their needs.

Our 2023 budget allocates additional funding to support the BCNU equity-seeking caucuses. This organizational allyship supports these groups' important work in building inclusive, culturally safe workplaces for their members.

We also continue to fund the union's rec- onciliation efforts in support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's calls to action, and to address the devastating legacy of residential schools felt by Indigenous people to this day.

It's important to recognize Indigenous people's traditions and for their relationship with the land that we occupy. Let's dedicate ourselves to moving forward in the spirit of partnership and reconciliation while honouring these wisdoms.

We remain focused on developing and improving our core functions and processes, and our financial and IT platforms are increasingly efficient, effective, and responsive.

In 2022 BCNU financially supported members through various initiatives. These included the college licence fee reimbursement and payments from the new nurse assistance fund, the benefit premium maintenance fund, and the prevention and assistance fund.

We continue to support student nurses with funding for their education, and this year we provided more than 9,000 members with a special $500 payment through the NBA Retiree Benefit Fund to help retirees with the cost of inflation. Payments for eligible retirees continue into 2023.

Personally, I have enjoyed visiting BCNU regions across the province to educate members about our operating budget and the activities and services we fund. I present the consolidated financial statements to members in all 16 regions to provide a detailed review of BCNU's financial position, and I'm pleased to report that our position remains strong.

Our strong defence fund also gave the NBA bargaining committee the assurance it needed to stand strong through any job action that may have been needed to achieve the collective agreement it secured. Now is the time for members to continue engaging in frank, open dialogue and ensuring that contract implementation achieves the best outcomes for all members.

I look forward to remaining unstoppable, growing together, united, organized, and letting our values lead the way.