BCGEU fights back hard against BCNU raid of LPNs

'It is now clear that the BCNU will fall far short of their goal of a province-wide application for LPNs.'

Vancouver (2 Oct. 2009) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has launched a new phase in its campaign to stop the B.C. Nurses' Union (BCNU) from raiding LPNs and other health care professionals.

The latest portion of the campaign will focus on greater member-to-member outreach in an effort to address questions and concerns that LPNs may have and to clear up misinformation spread by the BCNU. Support for the BCGEU remains strong. A large number of LPNs value their BCGEU membership and have expressed distrust of the BCNU and its motives.

“I question why they are only now taking such an interest in LPNs, just as we are taking on leadership roles in health care and expanding our scope of practice,” says Margaret Tune, an LPN from Creekside Landing in Vernon.

BCGEU says the BCNU raid on LPNs is faltering despite nine months of campaigning and countless resources spent trying to pry LPNs away from their current unions.

"It is now clear that the BCNU will fall far short of their goal of a province-wide application for LPNs," the union adds.

“Our outreach to LPNs has garnered lots of positive feedback,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “We’ve had an opportunity to hear what LPNs’ concerns are leading into bargaining and we’re finding them as eager as we are to head to the bargaining table together. The BCNU ought to be quite disappointed with their raid campaign. They have spent a lot of money and used up a lot of people’s time and it looks as though they may not have much to show for their efforts.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE