Nurses
About the Nurses collective agreement
The Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA) Provincial Collective Agreement covers approximately 60,800 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in BC. The majority of the nurses are represented by the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU). Nurses are also represented by the Health Sciences Association (HSA), the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) and the British Columbia Provincial Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU).
Nurses work predominantly in hospitals, but also in long-term care, community and public health, home support and mental health throughout the province. Approximately 87 per cent of nurses are employed by the province’s six health authorities and 13 per cent work for affiliate organizations including Providence Health Care.
In 2013, the Government of BC passed legislation – the Health Authorities Amendment Act – transferring all licensed practical nurses (LPNs) from the Facilities and Community bargaining associations into the NBA.
Status
HEABC members and the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) have reached a tentative agreement for a new collective agreement. HEABC and NBA entered into formal negotiations on October 21, 2025 and reached a tentative agreement on May 21, 2026.
The tentative agreement supports the government’s key priorities to protect and strengthen critical services in BC’s public sector, maintain labour stability in a complex round of bargaining and support the province’s efforts to find operational efficiencies that preserve front-line services. Both parties will now take the details of the tentative agreement back to their members for a ratification vote to ensure broad-based support.