BC nurses' strike expands to Vancouver Island, exceeding 2,300 harassment complaints

British Columbia's nurses' strike is expanding across Vancouver Island after the union reported a surge of complaints alleging employer intimidation and interference with workers' right to participate in job action.

The strike, which began July 2, has established picket lines at Vancouver General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey. Picketers are now up at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Monday, with Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria set to have pickets on Tuesday.

BC Nurses' Union president Adriane Gear reported that formal complaints have exceeded 2,300, alleging bullying, harassment, intimidation, or lack of support for non-nursing duties. "That's very concerning, and we have filed unfair labour practice applications at the labour board," Gear said. The union is considering additional job action on Vancouver Island in the coming week.

The B.C. government has appointed mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers to help the two sides reach agreement, but no meetings had taken place as of Sunday. Island Health, the regional health authority, said it respects workers' right to bargain collectively and has plans to maintain essential service levels where pickets occur.