Staff at new Burnaby centre for mental health and addictions join BCGEU

About 20 health care workers and support staff at the newly opened Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions (BCMHA) have voted to join the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union.

The workers help care for dual diagnosis patients-people with mental illness and severe drug addiction problems-at the groundbreaking facility located at the old Burnaby Youth Detention Centre.

"We're pleased to welcome these new members to the BCGEU," says union president Darryl Walker.

Walker adds that as the BCMHA expands to its planned 100-bed capacity, he expects that the number of BCGEU members working there will also increase. Staff will be covered by the existing collective agreement covering 12,000 community health workers in B.C.

Workers are joining BCGEU, says Walker, because the union is leading the way in addressing their priority issues like fair wages, job security, workplace health and safety, and benefits.

"Our success at BCMHA is a sign that BCGEU is the organization of choice for B.C. workers who are looking for the benefits of union membership," he says.