Community Living BCGEU Workers Set Job Action
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 @ 12:12 PM
Prince George, B .C.- A picket line will be set up at the AiM Hi site on Kerry Street tomorrow morning as community living workers who are members of the BCGEU stage a 24 hour job action.
There are 380 BCGEU members working for AimHi in Prince George. They will be among the more than 3000 community living workers in the province taking part in similar job actions in a number of communities.
“Community living workers are caring professionals that make sure the people with developmental disabilities participate in their community and enjoy the best quality of life possible,” says BCGEU Community Social Services Chairperson Patsy Harmston.
“We enjoy working with people, but many of us can’t make ends meet. Starting wages are $15 an hour, a dollar less than 10 years ago,” says Harmston. “Many of us have had to take on second jobs or are having to leave the work we love.”
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.
Essential service levels will be maintained.
Further 24-hour job action is scheduled for Thursday Jan. 31 in Vanderhoof, Victoria, Kamloops ,Trail, Castlegar, Salmon Arm, and Creston, and on Friday Feb. 1 in Cranbrook.
Comments
Maybe we can get our MLA’s and Government Managers to fill in for these people while they are on strike. This would give them an insight as to what skills are required on these jobs, and then maybe they would consider a fair increase in salaries.
MLA’s and the top managers in the Provincial Government never seem to have a problem in determining what there worth is, and in giving themselves raises, pensions, and perks.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
I was a caregiver but I retired. These workers deserve a fair wage increase as even back when I was working for Aimhi the wages were very much behind any work of simular job description. It’s past their time to catch up on wages and WORKING CONDITIONS.
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