Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in British Columbia hospitals are represented by the Hospital Employees Union (HEU). There were approximately 5,000 LPNs in British Columbia in 2009. LPNs take a one-year course and receive an average starting salary of just under $25 per hour. The British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU) represents registered nurses in the province. Registered nurses have a four-year degree and their starting salary is approximately $29 per hour. In 2009, the BCNU began a raid on the LPNs. A raid is an attempt by one union to take members away from another. Such action is generally frowned upon in the labor movement. To justify the raid, the BCNU claimed that the LPNs would receive higher salaries, pay lower union dues, and get more competent leadership that would not engage in radical conflict with the government. The HEU had been in a bitter confrontation with the provincial government in 2002 that was only resolved when back-to-work legislation was enacted. To defend itself from the raid, HEU launched an outreach campaign to convince its members to stay. A HEU business manager said: "BCNU has failed to restrict what LPNs can do, and we believe this is a matter of BCNU trying to control and restrict by other means." An HEU official stated: “The BCNU should be quite disappointed with the raid campaign. "They've spent a lot of money and consumed a lot of people's time and it looks like they won't have much to show for their efforts." On November 30, 2009, BCNU submitted an application to the Labor Relations Board for certification of the province's LPNs. But on January 18, 2010, it requested to withdraw the application when it became clear that it would not have enough LPNs signed up as members to be successful. The BCNU stated that it had not been possible to accurately determine the number of LPNs in the province due to their different locations. An unsuccessful application would mean a 22-month ban would be imposed on a second application.

Questions:

1. What concerns, if any, would hospital employers have in this situation?

2. What arguments can be made in criticism or defense of the raids?