UPDATED: Community social services: three agencies striking in Tri-Cities on November 1
Community social services professionals at three agencies that support children and adults with developmental disabilities and provide numerous other community services will be on strike tomorrow in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Striking workers will be protesting outside BC MLA Douglas Hornes office at 130 Brew Street, Port Moody on Thursday, November 1 from 10:30am to 1pm. Their message to the BC Liberal government: stop putting vulnerable families last!
Since 2004, the BC Liberal government has slashed $300 million in funding for programs that support the developmentally disabled, vulnerable women, at-risk youth, and children and infants in community-based programs across the province.
The following Tri-Cities not-for profit community agencies will be on strike:
SHARE Family & Community Services Society ... 25 King Edward Street, Coquitlam, BC - is a non-profit community based organization providing programs in response to the social needs of the residents of the Tri-Cities, New Westminster and adjacent communities. These workers are represented by the Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA).
On Nov 1, HSA members should gather at job action headquarters at 9:30am:2145 Mary Hill Road, Port Coquitlam
Job action HQ phone: 604.833.2894You must sign in at job action headquarters to receive job action pay.
Community Integration Services Society - 2175 Mary Hill Road, Port Coquitlam, BC - offers day programs for adults with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. The 40 CISS life skill workers at CISS are members of the BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU).
Community Ventures Society - #200 - 1024 Ridgeway Ave., Coquitlam, BC ... supports children and adults with developmental disabilities. CVS workers are represented by CUPE BC.
Picket lines will be up at CLV ... 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Road ... from 8am until 5pm.
Community social service workers have faced a decade of declining wages. The current starting wage for a residential care worker is $15.54 an hour. In 2002, it was $16.83. Factoring in inflation, thats a 22 percent wage cut.
There are 15,000 unionized workers in the community social services sector, represented by BCGEU, HSA, CUPE, HEU, and five other unions, which together make up the Community Social Services Bargaining Association.
Essential services levels are being maintained.