Community Social Services: More than 3000 workers going on strike
Nearly 3,400 community living workers who support adults, children and infants with disabilities and their families are going on strike, starting Wednesday, January 30.
The 24-hour job action will affect Richmond-based Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA) and Burnaby-based PosAbilities, the two largest community social service agencies in British Columbia. Agencies in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Vanderhoof, Trail, Salmon Arm, Castlegar, Creston and Cranbrook will also be picketed.
Striking workers will converge at DDA's headquarters at 3851 Shell Road, Richmond starting at 10am on Wednesday.
Striking workers want to send a clear message to the BC government: stop putting the squeeze on community living and other community-based social services! Proper funding is needed for programs for people with developmental disabilities and the workers who support them.
Recruitment and retention has become a huge problem in the community living sector. Some employers are opting not to pay the first pay level in the wage grid to better retain staff.
Frontline Community Living BC (CLBC) staff agree that additional funding is urgently needed to address the chronic program and support shortages in community living.
The following agencies will be on strike on Wednesday January 30 for 24 hours:
| Community | Agency | Picket Location |
| Burnaby | PosAbilities (BCGEU) | 4664 Lougheed Hwy. |
| Chilliwack | Chilliwack Society for Community Living (BCGEU) | 45845 Wellington Avenue |
| Chilliwack Community Services (BCGEU) | 45845 Wellilngton Avenue | |
| Coquitlam | Simon Fraser Society for Community Living (BCGEU) | 204 Blue Mountain Street, Coq., and 1551 Salisbury Avenue, PoCo |
| Community Ventures Society (CUPE) | 4664 Lougheed Hwy. | |
| Richmond | Developmental Disabilities Association (BCGEU) | 3851 Shell Road |
| Richmond Society of Community Living (CUPE) | 7000 Minoru Blvd. | |
| Western Human Resources (HEU) | 3851 Shell Road | |
| Penticton | Penticton & District Community Resources Society (BCGEU) | 330 Ellis Street |
| Prince George | AimHi (BCGEU) | 950 Kearry Street |
| Surrey | Semiahmoo House Society (BCGEU) | 15306 - 24th Avenue |
| Arcus Community Resources (BCGEU) | 12388 Patullo Place | |
| Vancouver | PosAbilities (BCGEU) | 1387 Venables Street |
HSA's Community Living members at Future Focus are not affected by job action this week. Further 24-hour job action is scheduled for Thursday Jan. 31 in Victoria, Kamloops, Vanderhoof, Trail, Castlegar, Salmon Arm, and Creston, and on Friday, February 1 in Cranbrook.