The BC government has given first reading to Bill15, intended to break the current impasse and strikes in health care sector bargaining. The Health Care Services Collective Agreements Act, if enacted in its current form, will set the terms of new collective agreements for both nurses and paramedical professional employees. The collective agreements in both cases will consist of the previous contract as modified by items already agreed to, and the last offer made by the Health Employers Association of BC. The collective agreements will be in force and will expire on March 31, 2004. Strikes while a collective agreement is in force are prohibited by the BC Labour Relations Code
