An image from the nurses rally in Prince George outside UHNBC on July 17, 2026
B.C. nurses

B.C. nurses end historic strike following mediator recommendations

Jul 24, 2026 | 1:12 PM

The union representing more than 55,000 nurses across British Columbia says the longest nurses’ strike in the province’s history is coming to an end.

The Nurses’ Bargaining Association has accepted recommendations put forward by special mediators Amanda Rogers and Vince Ready, bringing province-wide job action to a close effective at midnight tonight. The recommendations came after several days of intensive mediation aimed at resolving a labour dispute that has affected health-care facilities across the province for more than three weeks.

The strike saw nurses participate in a series of unprecedented job actions, including rotating picket lines at hospitals in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Nurses also refused to perform certain non-nursing duties and placed restrictions on overtime work, saying they wanted to draw attention to ongoing pressures within the health-care system.

According to the union, the mediators’ recommendations address several of the key concerns raised by nurses following a tentative agreement reached on May 22. Among the issues highlighted are workplace violence and the growing number of non-nursing tasks being assigned to nurses, duties the union says take health-care professionals away from direct patient care.

BC Nurses’ Union President Adriane Gear credited the solidarity of nurses across the province for bringing negotiations to this stage.

“This has been the longest nurses’ strike in BC’s history, and it was the collective strength, determination and solidarity of more than 55,000 nurses that brought us to this point,” Gear said in a statement.

Gear added that nurses forced government and health employers to confront challenges facing the profession and the broader public health-care system.

While the recommendations address a number of workplace concerns, some compensation-related issues remain unresolved. Those outstanding matters are expected to proceed to binding arbitration later this fall.

The union also thanked mediators Rogers and Ready for their efforts throughout the negotiations and acknowledged the support of patients, families, labour organizations and communities across British Columbia during the dispute.

“We are deeply grateful to British Columbians who supported nurses throughout this process,” said Gear. “You strengthened our resolve and reminded nurses that this fight was never just about us—it was about protecting the future of public health care in British Columbia.”

The recommendations are now being distributed to union members for review. While that process is underway, the BC Nurses’ Union says it will not be providing further public comment on the details of the proposed settlement.

The end of the strike marks a significant step toward restoring normal operations at health-care facilities throughout the province, although final resolution of all outstanding issues is still expected to continue in the months ahead.