B.C. community health workers win grievance

Employee vehicles used for work will have insurance paid for by company

Employees at Community Home Support Services (CHSS) will now have their vehicle insurance paid for by the company when the vehicle is used for work.

The union representing the workers filed a grievance when CHSS stopped paying for business insurance on employee vehicles. Business insurance is required because employees use their own vehicles to travel between clients. The union claims insurance can be an additional $50 to $150 for workers.

The B.C. government concluded that CHSS was violating an article in a sub-sector collective agreement when it ceased paying for the insurance.

Employees will have their insurance covered from Jan. 1, 2011. Members who filed the grievance will be reimbursed insurance payments to Jan. 1, 2010.

Employees at CHSS are represented by the British Columbia Government and General Employees’ Union, which facilitated the settlement earlier this week.

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