Nurses union worried

By Dan Hilborn
Pubished July 23, 2005


The B.C. Nurses' Union is expressing concern that quality of care could be eroded at Willingdon Park Hospital after the private care home decided to contract out its registered nurses this spring.

Peggy Eburne, co-chair of the union for the north side of the Fraser River, said she does not understand where the hospital will get its new nurses from, especially in light of an ongoing international nursing shortage.

"This is one of the more foolish things I've ever heard," Eburne said. "I cannot believe that anyone with any kind of vision would actually lay off registered nurses.

"This is quite shortsighted. If there were a lot of us (nurses), it might be different, but I can't comprehend where the nurses would come from to work for those people," she said. "Usually nurses wish to work in a unionized environment so their rights and their patients' rights are protected."

Attempts to contact Todd Simmons, director of operations at the Willingdon Park care home, were unsuccessful. However, Jody Shields, an administrator at the hospital, left a voice message at the Burnaby NOW asking for a list of questions in writing.

Meanwhile, an official with the Fraser Health Authority said information they've received from Willingdon Park care centre indicates that the facility does intend to maintain its current nursing standards.

"We've been assured by Willingdon Park that the care provided to residents will be maintained and they hope to increase the hours of nursing available," said David Plug, health authority spokesperson. "They hope to have more nurses with the change."

But Eburne said a total of 14 registered nurses who worked at the facility have already received their pink slips and are expected to be out of their jobs by early next month.

Eburne said the majority of nurses laid off by Willingdon Park will find work elsewhere and are not interesting in going back to work in a non-union environment.

"You really have to look at supply and demand," she said. "I think this is one employer who wants to make more money and I don't think they've thought it through very well. I do know the nurses that worked there at that facility do not want to be there any more.

"Some of them have been there for up to 20 years, and to be laid off like that is fairly significant."

The change to contract nursing is just the latest innovation at Willingdon Park Hospital. The facility was among the first care homes in the province to contract out its employees' work after the B.C. Liberal government introduced Bill 29 during its first term in office.

In 2003, the hospital contracted out 35 care aide jobs in a move that was described as "provocative and unnecessary" by the Hospital Employees' Union because it targeted workers who provided direct patient care.

The private hospital is also an active political contributor in the city.

In 2002, the hospital donated $500 to the TEAM Burnaby civic election party, and last year it donated $1,000 to the campaign of federal Liberal candidate Bill Cunningham.