The B.C. Nurses Union (BCNU) said members are reporting intimidation from health employers since nurses began job action.
The union announced on July 2 that its members would decline any non-nursing duties, like cleaning or clerical work, as well as any unnecessary overtime.
The BCNU said it had received more than 1,400 reports, with some nurses alleging they were threatened with discipline, firing or warned their professional licenses could be at risk.
BCNU President Adriane Gear said the union is filing an emergency application with the B.C. Labour Relations Board over the reports.
Gear said nurses are participating in lawful job action.
“We are trying to exercise our rights in a way that does not impact the delivery of patient care. However, if the employer is going to respond this way, then we’re really left with no choice but to withdraw labour,” said Gear.
Picket lines went up Tuesday at Vancouver General Hospital, and BCNU says more are planned Thursday at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey.
Gear said the union would continue to ramp up job action if the alleged behaviour from employers continues.
The B.C. Labour Relations Board sets out minimum levels of service that must be maintained during job action for essential services like nursing.
The Health Employers Association of B.C. said in a statement it has asked the union for information about alleged incidents and has committed to following up about any concerns.
“Employers are not directing employees to perform work outside their role, qualifications, professional scope, or collective agreement obligations. Where specific concerns arise regarding work or work-place issues, employers strongly encourage raising those matters through established local labour relations processes, so they can be reviewed and addressed promptly,” said the HEABC.
The BCNU said bargaining with the province had resumed Monday afternoon.
The union is calling on the provincial government to intervene with changes to its bargaining mandate.
The current mandate for all public sector workers includes a three per cent general wage increase annually over four years.
Gear said that falls short for nurses.
“There are some productive conversations, but at the end of the day, [bargainers are] not in a position to get us where we need to go, so this will require government intervention,” said Gear.
“What is really falling short is any sort of significant strategy to address retention and recruitment. Right now we have anywhere between 4,500 and 6,000 nursing vacancies,” she said.
Nurses voted 67 per cent to reject a tentative agreement that was reached with the province in May.
Vista News has reached out to the B.C. health ministry for a comment.
