British Columbia community health workers negotiate tentative agreement

221 BCGEU members work for agency: Union

BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) members reached a tentative agreement with their employer, We Care Home Health Services, late Aug. 10 before a rotating strike was set to begin.

"We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that provides our members with improved compensation, protects fair scheduling, and brings other significant improvements that will enable workers to provide reliable and consistent care to their clients," said Paul Finch, BCGEU treasurer.

After joining the union last July, the BCGEU bargaining committee began negotiations to improve working conditions for the 221 community health workers at the home-support agency. After several months of difficult talks, the terms of the tentative agreement are expected to be voted on later in August, said the union.

The workers provide home support services mainly to seniors and also work in areas such as addictions, youth palliative care, and mental health care.

The BCGEU is one of the largest and most diverse unions in British Columbia with more than 73,000 members and represents 10,000 workers in community health services throughout the province.

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