HEABC members and the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) have ratified a five-year provincial collective agreement for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019. The agreement covers nearly 42,000 registered, psychiatric, and licensed practical nurses working across the health sector throughout the province and provides labour stability, with a five-year term consistent with the province’s Economic Stability Mandate and other health sector agreements. The agreement also includes provisions that will facilitate health employers and the NBA working together on a variety of issues to improve patient care, working conditions for nurses, and streamline hiring and replacement processes for employers.

Expression of Interest process

As part of the NBA Collective Agreement changes to fill vacancies faster, a new posting and selection process goes into effect on May 12, 2016 for all RNs, RPNs, and LPNs. The Expression of Interest process (outlined below) applies to all RNs, RPNs, and LPNs and provides existing staff with first access to regular nursing vacancies within their unit.

Important: Expression of Interests (EOIs) will be sent to your work email. Please check your work email daily to access vacancies on your unit and when applying for EOIs. If you do not have an active Health Authority email address, please ask your Manager to get a work email set up for you as soon possible. If you need help accessing your email outside of work (home/smartphone), please refer to the instructions on VCH Connect.

Positions not filled through an Expression of Interest will be posted on the VCH internal job posting site.

New posting and selection process

Under the new Collective Agreement, the following changes will come into effect on May 12, 2016:
• LPNs will be integrated into NBA Provincial Collective Agreement; LPN and RN/RPN classification levels are now merged [LPN = level 1 & 2, RN/RPN = level 3 – 6]. This means a DC1, CH1, PS1 or ED1 level nurse is now a Level 3 nurse.
• For temporary vacancies up to 9 months, the manager will appoint a casual. If no casual is available, manager may appoint a regular employee. If no appointment is made, the vacancy will be posted as temporary.
o Level 1 and level 3 nurses must remain in the temporary position for its entire duration.
• For temporary vacancies that are longer than 9 months, the position will be offered as Expression of Interest to regular staff on the unit as a regular vacancy.
• All regular full time nursing vacancies will first be offered by Expression of Interest to full time nurses in the home unit and discipline where the vacancy arises.
• All regular part time vacancies will first be offered by Expression of Interest to part time nurses in the home unit where the vacancy arises. Part time staff can access part time positions within 0.08 FTE of the original vacancy FTE in their discipline.
• Expression of Interest vacancies will be offered for 72 hours and will be sent to the Nurses’ work email by Recruitment Services during which time you are required to apply if interested and must include your employee ID number and contact phone number.
• Expression of Interest vacancies will be awarded to the senior applicant by email notification with no interview.
• Vacancies not filled by Expression of Interest will be posted across VCH twice a week; Tuesdays and Thursdays for 72 hours. Vacancies will be posted as per the Collective Agreement including conducting interviews.
• The NBA Collective Agreement requires VCH to select the successful applicant within 7 business days of the posting close date. Applicants must make themselves available to attend an interview within 48 hours of being contacted by email or phone.
• Nurses who are awarded a vacancy through posting will receive a confirmation of offer to the nurse’s preferred email address. Nurses will have 48 hours to accept or decline the offer.
• Casual nurses (all nursing levels) who are awarded temporary vacancies will receive regular benefits for the entire duration of the appointment; LTD limited to 2 years. Level 1 and level 3 nurses shall commit to remain in the appointment for its entire duration.

Questions?

Please share this information (print/post) for staff who do not have easy access to email. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact Recruitment Services at 604-675-2500 or toll free at 1-800-565-1727, your Manager, or BCNU Steward.