Celebrity lends support to striking B.C. nurses as picket lines go up
B.C. nurses continued an escalation in job action on Tuesday morning, setting up a picket line outside of Vancouver General Hospital. And a celebrity with a history working in the health care industry was there to lend his support.
Blake Lynch, better known as Nurse Blake, shared messages of encouragement to striking nurses and posted photos and videos of the picket lines along West 12th near Laurel Street.
Nurse Blake is a former surgical ICU nurse turned content creator and internationally touring comedian with over 4.6 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Nurse Blake
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“Dear B.C. nurses, you got this,” Nurse Blake posted on his Instagram stories.
“Don’t give up. This isn’t job action, it’s patient advocacy.”
Additional picket lines will be set up at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre starting on Thursday, July 9.
According to the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU), nurses will maintain essential service levels to protect patient safety while picketing.
There is also a province-wide non-nursing ban and restriction on overtime for members of the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA).
BC Nurses Union
“Nurses do not want to be on picket lines,” said BCNU President Adriane Gear in a release. “We are in this profession to care for patients. But the provincial government and health employers can no longer ignore the demands of our health-care system, nor can they disregard the incredible pressure nurses face day in and day out.
“Even now, health employers are attempting to undermine nurses’ rights to take lawful job action by threatening discipline against those who are holding the line.”
Over 98 per cent of nurses voted in support of job action in mid-May, following six months of bargaining between the BCNU and its employer without reaching a deal.
The union’s members rejected a tentative agreement between the NBA and BC’s Health Employers in mid-June, with BCNU explaining that the vote reflects “growing frustration with pressures facing the nursing profession.”
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Nurse Blake posted images on social media explaining why “thousands of nurses across B.C., Canada and in Boston are going on strike, with the post gaining 10,000 likes in just 24 hours.
“Nurses should be treated right from the start, but it’s so inspiring to see nurses from all around the world coming together and advocating for one another to fight for what’s right,” he added.
Several fans thanked the Orlando-based content creator and founder of NurseCon for his support online.
“Thanks for the love and support,” said one commenter. “B.C. nurses and patients deserve better.”
“In a time where we need camaraderie between countries, you standing up for Canadian nurses means more than I can put into words,” added another. “Sharing on your platform is so helpful. Thank you.”
Nurse Blake
In a previous statement sent to Daily Hive, the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) said that they and the NBA have agreed to return to the bargaining table.
“The parties will resume negotiations starting early next week to address the issues that both parties believe are important. HEABC believes that negotiations are best kept to the bargaining table where the parties can work together on solutions that are mutually beneficial and support the government’s and employers’ key priorities,” HEABC said.
But Gear pointed out that the HEABC’s bargaining capacity is limited, which is why they will continue job action.
“What they’re saying is, ‘We hear you, that the deal fell short. There’s no more money.’ And so the only people that can change that dynamic are the government.”
With files from Hanna Hett