LABOUR Minister Jennifer Whiteside on Friday appointed Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers as special mediators in the ongoing labour dispute between the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU).

The appointments establish a process for the parties to work together to reach a settlement.

Government says it remains committed to upholding the principles of B.C.’s labour laws, which recognize that collective agreements are best reached at the bargaining table. Nurses are central to B.C.’s health-care system, and reaching a fair resolution is important to patients and health-care workers throughout the province.

Quick Facts:

* The appointments were made by the minister of labour under Section 76 of the Labour Relations Code.

* The special mediators will work with the parties for a period of 10 days.

* If the outstanding issues are not resolved, the special mediators will provide recommendations to the minister and the parties to resolve the dispute.