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Join striking community health workers in the first series of strike action on November 7 in downtown Vancouver.
Vancouver (06 Nov. 2012) - Strike action will begin tomorrow, November 7, for the 14,000 members in the community health sector at several locations across Vancouver to back bargaining proposals.
The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) reviewed the employer's latest offer and although a wage increase is included in the offer, it is tied securely to a corresponding "offset" (cost savings) from the collective agreement. The offset is matched by the employer to provide the wage increase. There is no guarantee built into the proposal that the wage increase will not be eroded in the future by increases to the cost of the provisions where the 'savings' were proposed.
The employer has not changed its position related to the offset, and failing a move in that direction, progress at the table is not possible.
Members will be informed by the union if their employer will be targeted for strike action.
The strike action will commence on November 7 at two downtown Vancouver - RainCity Housing and Support Society and Lookout Emergency Aid Society - in conjunction with a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. All three health sector bargaining associations (health professional, facilities and community health) will be participating in the rally, and members are being encouraged to attend,
Click here to learn more about the rally.
The CBA represents more than 14,000 members, the majority of whom are represented by the BCGEU/NUPGE. Other unions at the table are the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE), and the United Steel Workers of America (USWA).
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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