Here’s how.
Your future as an independent nursing professional is about to be decided through a secret ballot vote, conducted by the Labour Relations Board.
Just like in an election, the voting process is designed to protect your secret ballot.
No one – not the LRB, your employer, or the unions involved – will ever know how you voted
So don’t let others decide for you. Your future will be determined by a simple majority – 50 per cent plus one – of eligible LPNs who cast their ballots.
NEW: Please note that the Employment Standards Branch has made it possible for LPNs who have not received a ballot in the mail to obtain one at their offices across B.C. You can also drop off your ballot at these locations on June 21, 22 and 25 during regular office hours. Check here for more details.
How does the vote process work?
I’m eligible but I didn’t get a ballot. What do I do?
How do I vote?
This short video describes the contents of your ballot package and goes through the process of completing and returning your ballot.
Who is eligible to vote?
If you are an LPN who was directly employed by one or more of these health authorities on May 18, 2012 you should receive a ballot in the mail.
- Fraser Health Authority
- Interior Health Authority
- Northern Health Authority
- Providence Health Care
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
- Vancouver Island Health Authority
If you work for more than one of these employers you should receive a ballot from each employer.
Votes in each health authority will be counted separately, so you must complete and return each ballot separately.
Who is not eligible to vote?
More than 1200 LPNs (representing 30 per cent of LPN worksites in the Facilities subsector) are not eligible to vote.
BCNU’s raid applications excluded LPNs working for affiliate employers (other than Providence) and worksites covered by independent contracts.
In addition, BCNU’s raid application for the Provincial Health Services Authority was dismissed by the LRB.
When is the vote?
The Ministry of Labour mailed ballots to eligible LPNs on May 28, 2012.
When you receive it, read the Notice of Poll very carefully and follow the instructions.
Mark your ballot in the privacy of your home and mail it back to the LRB right away.
Your ballot must be in the mail and postmarked by June 25.
How does the vote process work?
- Read the Notice of Poll instructions very carefully.
- Mark your ballot with an X.
- Put your ballot in the small envelope titled “BALLOT” and seal it.
- Put this sealed envelope into the larger, stamped addressed envelope.
- Place your signature and print your name in the upper left hand corner of the stamped envelope.**
- Mail as soon as possible. Any ballots postmarked after June 25 will not be counted.
**NOTE: There is a discrepancy between the instructions on the notice of poll, and the instructions on the outer envelope.The envelope says to print your name first, with signature below. The notice of poll says sign first and then print your name below. As long as you both print and sign your name in the upper left hand corner, your ballot will be accepted. That is the information provided to HEU by the Industrial Relations Officer in charge of the vote.
How is my privacy protected?
The vote process protects your secret ballot.
The outer envelope with your name and signature allows the Returning Officer to verify that you are eligible to vote.
Just like voting in an election, you must sign in, in order to vote. If you don’t sign the outer envelope and print your name as per the instructions, your vote will not be counted.
After verifying your eligibility, the Returning Officer will open up the outer envelope and place the smaller, sealed envelope with your ballot into a ballot box, along with all the other sealed ballots.
And again, just like in an election, the sealed ballots will all be opened at the same time, after balloting has closed. This is how your secret ballot is protected.
You can further protect your privacy by:
- marking your ballot in the privacy of your own home AND
- mailing your ballot as soon as possible.
You are not required to tell anyone how you voted.
I’m eligible but I didn’t get a ballot. What do I do?
Call Jacquie at 1-800-663-5813 or 604-456-7056 or email jpaquette@heu.org.
Or, contact the Ministry of Labour Returning Officer, J.R. Dunne at 604-664-7866.
Please note that you can pick up a ballot from your local office of the Employment Standards Branch on June 21, 22 and 25. Details here.