Coquitlam, B.C. (150 nurses) and the British Columbia Nurses’ Union
Renewal agreement: Effective April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2017. Signed on Feb. 17, 2015.
Wage adjustments:
April 1, 2015: 1.375%
April 1, 2016: 1.375%
Shift premium: 70¢ per hour for evening shift. $3.50 for night shift. $2 for weekend shift. $1 extra (on top of regular night and weekend premiums) super shift premium for hours between 11:30 p.m. Friday to 7:30 a.m. Sunday. $3 for the first 72 hours on-call in a month, $4.25 for every hour over that. $1.25 responsibility pay if an employee works in a higher rated position. $50 per month differential if employee with special clinical preparation of not less than 4 months is employed in the special service they are qualified for. $50 per month for employees with a diploma in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing if they have used the course within 4 years prior to employment. $25 per month for an employee who has completed the CHA/CAN course Nursing Unit Administration and/or CHA Hospital Department Management Course and/or BCIT certificate program in Health Care Management, and is using the course in their employment. $50 per month for acquiring and maintaining registration under the Nurses (Registered) Act and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Act. $25 per month for an employee who passes a 1-year university course in nursing. $100 per month for an employee who has a baccalaureate degree. $125 per month to an employee who has a master’s degree in nursing.
Paid holidays: 12 days.
Vacations with pay: Full time: 20 days to start, 3 weeks after 5 years, with 1 day being added per year of service up to 45 days after 29 years.
Overtime: Full time: Time and one-half for the first 2 hours worked over the regular 7.5 hours per day, then double time for the remainder of the hours worked. Time and one-half for first daily full shift hours and double time for any other hours worked in excess of 36 hours per week. Double time for working a shift on an employee’s scheduled day off. Flexible schedule: Time and one-half for more than 144 hours in a 4 week period. Time and one-half for overtime hours worked on a paid holiday and for a day scheduled as a paid holiday but changed by the employer with less than 2 weeks’ notice. 30 minutes time and one-half on top of regular hours for a shift work where no meal period is taken. Overtime can be taken as time off or pay.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums. Employee is eligible 30 days after hire.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of the basic plan, 60% of the extended plan, and 60% of orthodontics. Orthodontic services have a lifetime maximum of $2,750 per patient. Employee is eligible 30 days after hire.
Vision: $350 every 2 years per employee or dependant. Maximum lifetime amount per employee or dependant is unlimited.
Paramedical: Employer will pay 100% of the premium for coverage of employees and their dependents under the Pacific Blue Cross Plan. $600 per person in each 4 year period for purchase and maintenance of hearing aids. Maximum lifetime amount per employee or dependant is unlimited.
Sick leave: 1.5 sick days for each month of work for full-time employees.
LTD: Eligible after 3-month probation period. Salary continuation until age 65 in event of a disability.
AD&D: Standard 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Employer pays 100% of the premium.
Life insurance: $50,000 basic life insurance. Employer pays 100% of the premium.
Pension: Municipal Pension Plan.
Bereavement leave: 3 work days for death of spouse (including common-law), child, parent, brother, sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents, grandchild, or any relative the employee lives with. 2 additional days for travel time are available if employer approves them.
Seniority – recall rights: 1 year.
Call-in pay: 2 hours’ pay if called in and doesn’t work, minimum 4 hours’ pay if called in and they do work. Applicable overtime rate if called in and not given 10 days’ notice of schedule changes.
Probationary period: 3 months.
Discipline: 18 months.
Severance: 1 week’s pay for every 2 years of service to a maximum of 20 weeks’ pay.
Uniforms/clothing: Uniforms will be provided and laundered by employer.
Tool allowance: If the employee is required to have a pager available during on-call period, the employer will take care of all related expenses.
Mileage: 50¢ per km or round-trip taxi fare, with a minimum of $2 for each round trip, call-back travel allowance.
Sample rates of pay (current, after 1.375% increase):
Level 1: $31.96 per hour, rising in 8 steps to $41.95.
Level 2: $38.01 per hour, rising in 8 steps to $46.57
Editor’s notes: Termination: 28 days' written notice must be provided by the employee. If they do not provide that notice, they lose 2% of their vacation pay. 10 days' notice by the employer if they terminate an employee. Benefits: Employees with 1 year or more of service who are laid off will accrue benefits for 20 work days and have benefits maintained for 1 year. Evaluations: 1 every 2 years. Qualifying period: 3 months in a new position to be returned to old role if unsatisfactory. Salary on promotion: $200 minimum monthly increase, moving to the lowest step in the new increment structure. New rate applies from first day worked, including orientation. Increment anniversary date for all employees. Medical examinations: Employer may request, and pay for, an employee to have a medical examination by a physician of the employer’s choice. Pregnant employees: Pregnant employees may request a transfer from current duties if a physician says the pregnancy may be at risk. If no transfer is feasible, the employee may be granted an unpaid leave of absence until maternity leave begins. Immunizations: Employer will pay for nurses to have immunizations when working in a high-risk area. Court appearance: Regular employee required to serve on a jury or subpoenaed as a witness — not for their own trial — will be given leave with pay for the length of the court duty. Education: When employer agrees to transfer of function, they must provide in-service programs/training to nurses. Employees attending these programs will be paid their regular rate. If the employer requests an employee take courses, the employer will grant leave with pay as well as cover the cost of tuition and books, travelling costs, and subsistence expenses. Employee can request 1 day of paid leave to attend an employer-approved course, not to exceed 9 days in 2 years. Elections: 4 consecutive hours for federal elections and 3 consecutive hours for provincial elections. Maternity leave: 52 weeks unpaid. No woman may return to work sooner than 6 weeks after birth of her baby or termination of her pregnancy. 5 weeks additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Parental leave: 37 weeks' unpaid leave. 5 weeks additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Adoption leave: 37 weeks without pay, with proof of adoption. 5 weeks' additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Special leaves: 5 days for marriage. 1 day for paternity. 2 days at a time to care for an immediate family member who has a serious illness.
Wage adjustments:
April 1, 2015: 1.375%
April 1, 2016: 1.375%
Shift premium: 70¢ per hour for evening shift. $3.50 for night shift. $2 for weekend shift. $1 extra (on top of regular night and weekend premiums) super shift premium for hours between 11:30 p.m. Friday to 7:30 a.m. Sunday. $3 for the first 72 hours on-call in a month, $4.25 for every hour over that. $1.25 responsibility pay if an employee works in a higher rated position. $50 per month differential if employee with special clinical preparation of not less than 4 months is employed in the special service they are qualified for. $50 per month for employees with a diploma in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing if they have used the course within 4 years prior to employment. $25 per month for an employee who has completed the CHA/CAN course Nursing Unit Administration and/or CHA Hospital Department Management Course and/or BCIT certificate program in Health Care Management, and is using the course in their employment. $50 per month for acquiring and maintaining registration under the Nurses (Registered) Act and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Act. $25 per month for an employee who passes a 1-year university course in nursing. $100 per month for an employee who has a baccalaureate degree. $125 per month to an employee who has a master’s degree in nursing.
Paid holidays: 12 days.
Vacations with pay: Full time: 20 days to start, 3 weeks after 5 years, with 1 day being added per year of service up to 45 days after 29 years.
Overtime: Full time: Time and one-half for the first 2 hours worked over the regular 7.5 hours per day, then double time for the remainder of the hours worked. Time and one-half for first daily full shift hours and double time for any other hours worked in excess of 36 hours per week. Double time for working a shift on an employee’s scheduled day off. Flexible schedule: Time and one-half for more than 144 hours in a 4 week period. Time and one-half for overtime hours worked on a paid holiday and for a day scheduled as a paid holiday but changed by the employer with less than 2 weeks’ notice. 30 minutes time and one-half on top of regular hours for a shift work where no meal period is taken. Overtime can be taken as time off or pay.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums. Employee is eligible 30 days after hire.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of the basic plan, 60% of the extended plan, and 60% of orthodontics. Orthodontic services have a lifetime maximum of $2,750 per patient. Employee is eligible 30 days after hire.
Vision: $350 every 2 years per employee or dependant. Maximum lifetime amount per employee or dependant is unlimited.
Paramedical: Employer will pay 100% of the premium for coverage of employees and their dependents under the Pacific Blue Cross Plan. $600 per person in each 4 year period for purchase and maintenance of hearing aids. Maximum lifetime amount per employee or dependant is unlimited.
Sick leave: 1.5 sick days for each month of work for full-time employees.
LTD: Eligible after 3-month probation period. Salary continuation until age 65 in event of a disability.
AD&D: Standard 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Employer pays 100% of the premium.
Life insurance: $50,000 basic life insurance. Employer pays 100% of the premium.
Pension: Municipal Pension Plan.
Bereavement leave: 3 work days for death of spouse (including common-law), child, parent, brother, sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents, grandchild, or any relative the employee lives with. 2 additional days for travel time are available if employer approves them.
Seniority – recall rights: 1 year.
Call-in pay: 2 hours’ pay if called in and doesn’t work, minimum 4 hours’ pay if called in and they do work. Applicable overtime rate if called in and not given 10 days’ notice of schedule changes.
Probationary period: 3 months.
Discipline: 18 months.
Severance: 1 week’s pay for every 2 years of service to a maximum of 20 weeks’ pay.
Uniforms/clothing: Uniforms will be provided and laundered by employer.
Tool allowance: If the employee is required to have a pager available during on-call period, the employer will take care of all related expenses.
Mileage: 50¢ per km or round-trip taxi fare, with a minimum of $2 for each round trip, call-back travel allowance.
Sample rates of pay (current, after 1.375% increase):
Level 1: $31.96 per hour, rising in 8 steps to $41.95.
Level 2: $38.01 per hour, rising in 8 steps to $46.57
Editor’s notes: Termination: 28 days' written notice must be provided by the employee. If they do not provide that notice, they lose 2% of their vacation pay. 10 days' notice by the employer if they terminate an employee. Benefits: Employees with 1 year or more of service who are laid off will accrue benefits for 20 work days and have benefits maintained for 1 year. Evaluations: 1 every 2 years. Qualifying period: 3 months in a new position to be returned to old role if unsatisfactory. Salary on promotion: $200 minimum monthly increase, moving to the lowest step in the new increment structure. New rate applies from first day worked, including orientation. Increment anniversary date for all employees. Medical examinations: Employer may request, and pay for, an employee to have a medical examination by a physician of the employer’s choice. Pregnant employees: Pregnant employees may request a transfer from current duties if a physician says the pregnancy may be at risk. If no transfer is feasible, the employee may be granted an unpaid leave of absence until maternity leave begins. Immunizations: Employer will pay for nurses to have immunizations when working in a high-risk area. Court appearance: Regular employee required to serve on a jury or subpoenaed as a witness — not for their own trial — will be given leave with pay for the length of the court duty. Education: When employer agrees to transfer of function, they must provide in-service programs/training to nurses. Employees attending these programs will be paid their regular rate. If the employer requests an employee take courses, the employer will grant leave with pay as well as cover the cost of tuition and books, travelling costs, and subsistence expenses. Employee can request 1 day of paid leave to attend an employer-approved course, not to exceed 9 days in 2 years. Elections: 4 consecutive hours for federal elections and 3 consecutive hours for provincial elections. Maternity leave: 52 weeks unpaid. No woman may return to work sooner than 6 weeks after birth of her baby or termination of her pregnancy. 5 weeks additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Parental leave: 37 weeks' unpaid leave. 5 weeks additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Adoption leave: 37 weeks without pay, with proof of adoption. 5 weeks' additional leave available if the child suffers from a physical, psychological, or emotional condition, confirmed by a physician. Special leaves: 5 days for marriage. 1 day for paternity. 2 days at a time to care for an immediate family member who has a serious illness.
