B.C. nurses vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Nurses Union has voted 98.2 per cent in favour of strike action.

More than 50,000 of the approximately 55,000 union members voted after talks reached an impasse in April over issues including benefits, pay and staffing shortages.

Union president Adriane Gear says the union was met with an “employer who has refused to offer any substantive contract improvements.”

She says the vote doesn’t “mean nurses are going on strike tomorrow” but demonstrates that they are united more than ever and prepared to do what it takes to get a fair contract.