Vincent Spoor, a Kelowna RPN, always liked helping people. During his early career as a care aide, he discovered he especially liked helping people with mental health problems.
New to BCNU, Vincent became a member when his workplace voted in 2016 to switch to our union, a decision he strongly supports. To learn more about his new representation, he conducted his own research and spoke with other BCNU members. Vincent’s wife, an LPN and BCNU member at another workplace, also spoke positively about the benefits of making the change.
“Members said that they felt quite supported, and spoke highly of BCNU. They said the union had been fighting strongly for their needs, like patient safety and worker safety, as well as trying to ensure we are appropriately compensated,” he adds. “I felt BCNU would provide better representation. And I do feel more supported. It has been a welcoming atmosphere.”
“I think it’s important for RPNs to be in the same union as other designations so we can help support each other. And I think BCNU does a really good job of helping nurses in their profession and offering them the support that they need as well as providing educational opportunities. Working as a team together, we go further.”2,872 new members in 2016
He also points to proper staffing levels as a welcome tangible outcome for Vincent and his colleagues.
Equally important to Vincent? He says BCNU’s initiatives for health and safety, and violence prevention in the workplace, are especially meaningful to him and his colleagues who all work in mental health.
Victor is a fan of BCNU’s new combined contract, uniting LPNs with RNs and RPNs in one union, in one contract for the first time.
“Together, we can advocate for the right skill mix to deliver the best care for patients. We’re all part of the health care system, we’re not separate.”
“As a team working together, we can care for our patients professionally, while being represented by a strong union. I think that RPNs working together within BCNU can work more effectively. We’re stronger
together as a team,” he says.
For BCNU, the successful Kelowna vote strengthens the union by building up membership across all disciplines—the better to advocate for the entire nursing family in BC.