Manager not a manager sometimes B.C. labour boards decides.

Vancouver -- A nurse-manager is now included in the bargaining unit of the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society, an agency serving people living on the street. The inclusion resulted from a decision by the British Columbia Labour Relations Board.

The board responded to claims by two unions, Hospital Employees' Union and British Columbia Nurses' Union, which jointly certified to represent the employees. The nurse at the centre of the dispute, Karen Ashworth, supported the union position. However, the agency was not represented at the hearing because it claimed that it could not afford representation costs.

The agency services include: alcohol and drug counselling, youth detoxification services, a needle exchange program for intravenous drug users, a needle collection program, safe houses and a health outreach van program. Each night a nurse and a driver go out on 10 hour shifts. They are often accompanied by a student nurse who observes the service. Ashworth acts as one of the nurses on these shifts. The only difference between her and the other nurses is that once a week she orders supplies for the van and schedules the students. She does not supervise the other nurses nor instruct students.

The Board determined that Ashworth should not be considered part of management because:

* she had no power, discipline and discharge;

* she has no part in labour relations decisions;

* she did not hire, promote or demote employees, therefore, she could be included in the bargaining unit.

J. Najeeb Hassan, ViceChair of the Board presided over the hearing and presented the decision.