FILE PHOTO.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A group of anti-vax Interior Health nurses who accused their union of discrimination after being fired for not getting vaccinated have lost a legal challenge.

According to an April 20 B.C. Labour Relations Board decision, the seven nurses argued the B.C. Nurses' Union wasn't moving quickly enough in fighting for them to get re-hired.

The nurses argued the union was representing them in an "arbitrary, discriminatory, and bad faith manner."

According to the decision, Jacqui Bokmer, Cynthia Dykstra, Andrea Henders, Vera Meuleman and Anita Roulston, and Corinne Mori all worked for Interior Health while Celina Gold worked for the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

All seven were issued termination letters for failing to comply with the Public Health Order that all healthcare staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The decision says the nurses were "repeatedly advised" to get vaccinated before being fired.

The nurses can now add their name to a list of healthcare workers who have fought against their unions after being fired for not getting vaccinated — and lost. 

READ MORE: Anti-vaxxer loses fight with union after being fired by Interior Health

The B.C. Nurses' Union has gone to bat for them but the nurses complained the process was taking too long.

The union argued the cases are complex and it was conducting an analysis of the issues and considering how best to proceed. It says that in the summer of 2022 it told the nurses that it could take several more months.

However, the nurses took their case to the Labour Relations Board.

The nurses argued the process has "stalled" and that the Union has given "vague" details and provided "no updates" on their cases.

The Labour Relations Board didn't agree.

"While I recognize the (nurses) are frustrated about the time it is taking to resolve the grievances, this is not a situation where the Union has refused to communicate with the (nurses) or has indicated or even implied that it will not be proceeding with the grievances," the Board ruled. "To the contrary, the Union has been updating the (nurses) and advising of the status of the grievances."

READ MORE: 'Medical apartheid:' Anti-vaxxer loses battle after ICBC fired her

One of the nurses, Corinne Mori, also accused the Labour Relations Board vice-chair Gurleen Sahota of a possible conflict of interest and bias because he was appointed by B.C. Premier David Eby when he was the Attorney General.

Mori says Eby "has adamantly refused to allow healthcare workers back to work."

The Labour Relations Board vice-chair Sahota dismissed the claim and pointed to the legislation that requires the Attorney General to appoint him.

"Alleging the Premier has 'adamantly refused to allow healthcare workers back to work,' and alleging that 'political influences' are involved, the (nurses) have not raised any circumstance or ground that suggests that I should be disqualified on the basis of a conflict of interest or reasonable apprehension of bias," the vice-chair ruled.

Ultimately, the Labour Relations Board dismissed the nurses' complaint.

READ MORE: Christian anti-vaxxers win legal case against a B.C. health authority

The move leaves the nurses waiting on their union to see how, when, and if, it will go forward to argue for their jobs back.

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