Talks broke down last week between the provincial government, employers and the 10 unions representing B.C.’s 15,000 community social services workers. The parties have been trying to reach a collective agreement since February.
Wages, benefits and concessionary demands by the employer, including revisiting improvements gained in the last round of bargaining, are the outstanding issues.
James Cavalluzzo, chair of the multi-union bargaining committee, said, “We are asking for a fair and reasonable deal for the caring professionals that care and support adults with developmental disabilities, youth at risk, women fleeing abusive relationships and other vulnerable people in B.C.
“Community social service workers are the lowest-paid workers in the broader public sector, and they have not had a pay increase in three years. With inflation, that equates to an effective pay cut of 5%.”
The Canadian Union of Pubic Employees BC (CUPE) said that under the BC Liberal Party government’s “co-operative gains” mandate, wage and benefit improvements must be funded through increased efficiencies, but the community social services sector says it is already too lean to generate savings to fund wages.
The bargaining committee said it tabled alternative proposals on cost savings and efficiencies that were not considered.
CUPE said a strike vote will be taken imminently.
Community social service workers in aboriginal services currently remain at the negotiating table.
@JHarrisonBIV
