Community social service workers on strike; vulnerable families last on BC governments priority list
Fifteen thousand community-based social service workers across BC are in a position to strike as of today, and rotating job action begins with a rally at Christy Clarks MLA office in Kitsilano today starting at 10am.
HSA President Reid Johnson says the BC government has put vulnerable families last on its priority list, slashing $300 million in funding since 2004 for programs that support the developmentally disabled, vulnerable women, at-risk youth, and children and infants in community-based programs across the province.
Johnson said that in 2002, the starting wage for a residential care worker was $16.83. Today, its $15.54. Thats a wage loss of over 20 percent over a decade, after inflation.
Community social services workers help and support the most vulnerable members of BCs communities, including youth-at-risk, women fleeing violence, people with disabilities, immigrants, First Nations, and many others.
Todays strike in Vancouver will be followed by job action in Kamloops (Oct. 17) and Prince George (Oct. 18).
For more information, download this information leaflet.