Community social services workers vote to accept new collective agreement.

NEARLY 15,000 community social services workers represented by 13 unions have ratified new collective agreements. Workers voted 66 percent to accept the new agreement in community living; 69 percent in general services.

The two-year contracts provide for continuity of service for B.C.s most vulnerable citizens and protects workers jobs in exchange for about $40 million in cost containment and concessions.

-This was a tough set of negotiations," said Chris Anderson, spokesperson for the Union Bargaining Association. -The Campbell Liberals used Bill 29 to tear up our collective agreements and strip workers of their hard-won rights. The entire sector is reeling from massive funding cuts. And the Ministry of Children and Family Development is in constant disarray with its on-again, off-again reorganization, allegations of fraud and fudged contracts, and high-level resignations and firings.

-Then the government sent its bargaining agent to the table demanding a clawback of $70 million from our contracts and threatening to lock out workers if we refused to accept it. It took six months, but in the end we did the near-impossible given this outrageous political climate — maintain service for clients and protect jobs."

Anderson credited the support and solidarity of the workers whose priority from day one was safeguarding the long-standing relationships of trust, care and friendship between vulnerable clients such as adults and children with physical and developmental challenges and their caregivers — relationships that have been threatened by the Campbell Liberals.

The agreements, which expire March 31, 2006, preserve wage rates for incumbent employees and the majority of superior benefits outside of health and welfare. Savings were achieved mostly through the implementation of a wage grid for new hires and amendments to some health and welfare benefits.

Community social services workers provide a wide range of services including assistance to people with physical or developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome or autism, counselling, support and guidance to teenagers, children and parents, assistance to immigrant families, crisis centres and suicide prevention, help for women and their children fleeing abusive homes, and sexual assault response and advocacy.

Community social services workers vote to accept new collective agreement

Contact: Carol Adams, (604) 291-9611