Victoria – The Health Employers Association (HEABC) has reached a tentative agreement with members of the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA).
Fro the media release by the Province: The tentative agreement is based on the Balanced Measures Mandate and includes additional funding to support service delivery and improve working conditions for NBA members. Details about the agreement will be available after the ratification process for the union members and the sector-based employers is complete.
The NBA Provincial Collective Agreement covers about 62,600 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in B.C. The vast majority of the nurses in the NBA are represented by the BC Nurses’ Union and by the Health Sciences Association. The Canadian Union for Public Employees, the Hospital Employees’ Union and the British Columbia General Employees’ Union also represent some members. Nurses work predominantly in hospitals, but also in long-term care, community and public health, home support and mental health throughout the province.
Negotiations under the 2025 Balanced Measures Mandate support government’s key priorities to protect and strengthen critical services in B.C.’s public sector, to maintain labour stability in a complex round of bargaining and to support the Province’s efforts to find operational efficiencies that preserve front-line services.
From the BC Nurses Association:
Record 98.2% strike vote mandate from more than 50,000 members shifts balance of power at the bargaining table
After more than 50,000 nurses delivered a record 98.2% YES strike vote mandate, the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) provincial bargaining committee has reached a tentative agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and is unanimously recommending ratification.
The tentative agreement will now move through the ratification process, giving nurses across British Columbia the opportunity to review and vote on the proposed agreement.
“This tentative agreement was reached because nurses across British Columbia came together and showed they were prepared to fight for meaningful change,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear. “The record strike mandate shifted the balance of power at the bargaining table and gave the committee the leverage to push harder, stay at the table longer, and secure meaningful gains for nurses across the province. The bargaining committee believes this represents the strongest agreement achievable through negotiations in this round of bargaining.”
After months of difficult negotiations and a strike vote, the tentative agreement includes improvements to benefits coverage, access to the enhanced mandate monies in addition to the government’s general wage increase of 12% over 4 years, workplace safety, violence prevention measures, and other provisions aimed at addressing priorities nurses identified throughout bargaining and improving working conditions across British Columbia.
The NBA also negotiated an agreement with the Ministry of Health to secure significant additional funding to continue implementing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.
“Members drove this process from start to finish,” said BCNU CEO and Chief Negotiator Jim Gould. “Their solidarity and collective action strengthened our position at the table and helped secure meaningful gains for members across the province. The bargaining committee fought hard to make the most of the power members built together throughout this round.”
Detailed ratification materials outlining proposed improvements and changes included in the tentative agreement will be shared with members in the coming days.
The ratification vote will take place from June 15 to June 19, 2026. Additional information regarding the ratification process and voting details will be shared directly with members.
The NBA represents more than 60,000 nurses working in hospitals, long-term care, community health, public health, and other health-care settings throughout British Columbia.
