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Rotating strikes and solidarity helped achieve collective agreement settlement.
Vancouver (30 April 2013) – Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) working in Aboriginal Services have voted in favour of a two-year contract that provides a modest wage increase while protecting health and welfare benefits.
Collective agreement highlights
For all employees working in delegated aboriginal service programs: a wage increase for 2012 and a two per cent increase for 2013. For all employees not working in delegated aboriginal service programs, they will receive a 1.5 per cent on April 1, 2013, a 1.5 per cent on January 1, 2014 and an extra one per cent wage increase for all employees at Step 1 within their Grid on April 1, 2013.
There will also be a labour market adjustment review for all Aboriginal Service, General Service and Community Living classifications.
Who are Aboriginal service workers?
Aboriginal services are government social services devolved to aboriginal agencies that support Aboriginal families across B.C. Aboriginal service workers are counselors and social workers for families, addiction-related issues, stop the violence programs, but also program managers, settlement and integration workers, and more.
Rotating strikes helped achieve deal
“Aboriginal Service workers have voted in favour of an improved contract, but it took rotating strike action in community living, family services and Aboriginal Services to get a deal,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.
Aboriginal Service workers at Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS) were on strike in December 2012. In late January 2013, nearly 3,400 community living workers went on strike. The following week, nearly 500 family service workers were picketing. Rotating strike action first started in October 2012 and impacted communities across the province.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE