British Columbia nurses to picket Vancouver General Hospital

The British Columbia Nurses’ Union announced that it will erect picket lines around Vancouver General Hospital, the province’s largest medical centre, starting Tuesday following a province‑wide escalation of its strike. The action follows a 72‑hour strike notice issued on July 2, under which nurses are refusing all non‑nursing duties and non‑essential overtime while maintaining essential patient‑care services.

Almost 98.2% of the union’s more than 50,000 members voted in favour of job action, and 67% rejected a tentative collective agreement negotiated in May. Union president Adriane Gear said nurses do not wish to disrupt patient care but contend that the provincial government must address staffing shortages and working‑condition deficits. CEO Jim Gould added that serious improvements are needed for the government to resolve the nursing shortage.