B.C. nurses sees no sign of government shift on pay mandate as mediated talks begin

BC Nurses' Union president Adriane Gear speaks as union members picket outside Surrey Memorial Hospital, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — The president of a union representing 60,000 nurses in B.C. says there has been no indication the province is willing to move off its pay mandate in their labour dispute, somewhat dampening optimism as mediation gets underway.

Adriane Gear’s comments come as the BC Nurses’ Union and the employer are scheduled Tuesday to have their first formal session with two veteran mediators in Vancouver, after an initial meeting Monday.

Gear has returned to Vancouver for the mediated talks from Victoria, where she spoke earlier at a picket line outside Royal Jubilee Hospital before picketing is set to end tonight.

Nurses have complained of staffing shortages and deteriorating workplace safety conditions, with job action that began earlier this month involving the refusal of overtime and non-nursing duties

The union said Monday it is ending picketing that began last week in Metro Vancouver before moving to Vancouver Island this week, a move Gear described as a “good-faith gesture” ahead of mediation.

The province has said it will not release any details of the talks “out of respect for the mediation process.”

It adds that people should not hesitate to seek emergency or urgent care, even if there are job actions in place.

Gear says she does not know what to expect from mediated talks over the next few days.

“The part that sort of makes me pause — and our bargaining team — is that there’s certainly not been any indication that government’s moving to move off their imposed mandate,” Gear says.

“Both mediators are highly respected and skilled, and we’re going to put our best foot forward — I’m literally in a cab heading there now as my team is already there … and we are going to do our best to see if we can get some place.”

The government’s mandate for public-sector bargaining includes an offer of a 12 per cent pay increase over four years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2026.