New contract improves job security and fair work practices
BURNABY—Community-based social service workers from the nine unions in the sector have approved their new collective agreements. The vote was 88 per cent in favour for General Services and 79 per cent in favour for Community Living Services.
The agreement improves job security and fair work practices for workers, such as bumping, job selection language and bullying. In addition, the government has approved a $600,000 retraining grant for workers in the sector.
Highlights of the new collective agreement can be found here and online.
The bargaining association unanimously recommended the settlement.
Union members showed tremendous patience and solidarity throughout a very lengthy and often frustrating process. To back-up their bargaining demands, members returned an 82 per cent strike mandate on May 30.
Bargaining continues for members in the Aboriginal Services sector.
The BCGEU is the largest union in the community social services sector, representing about two-thirds of workers. CUPE, HEU, HSA are the next largest followed by CLAC, UFCW, USW, CSWU and BCNU. There are 220 employers represented by the Community Social Services Employers’ Association.
