Dear BCGEU, 

As our strike vote continues, we're sending a quick reminder about information sessions being held today and next week: 

   💻 Zoom Sessions 

• Thursday, Nov 6 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 
• Saturday, Nov 15 – 12:00 p.m. 

• Thursday, Nov 20 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 

   🔗 Zoom link sent via bulletin 

• Meeting ID: contact [email protected]
• Passcode: Contact [email protected] 
  
  

    ☎ Telephone Townhall 

• Wednesday, Nov 12 – 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. We'll call every member covered under the CBA collective agreement that we have a phone number for. When you get called, just stay on the line - you'll be automatically connected to the event. If you want to make sure you get called, please log in to Member Portal and make sure we have your current home or personal cell phone number. We would like to remind you that you can't use your employer's email system or your work phone to stay in touch with our union. 

Our strike authorization vote opened on Monday– and your voting credentials have been sent to your personal email address. The email with your credentials will come from [email protected]. If you can't find the email, please check your spam or junk folder. Still can't find it? Reach out to [email protected] or 833-833-3297 to confirm the personal email address we have on file, and for other troubleshooting support. 

Your bargaining committee is recommending that all members vote 'YES' to show we're united and ready to fight for a fair deal that includes: 

• Fair funding for our benefits 

• Fair access to overtime 

• Protection against 'gig work' scheduling 

• Equal pay for equal work 

Remember: a positive strike vote does not automatically mean a strike will happen. It is a powerful tool to help us negotiate the agreement we all deserve.

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee

UWU/MoveUP

New mental health & wellness benefit launching January 1, 2026

Dear BCGEU members covered by the CBA,

Improved coverage for counselling and mental health support has been a strong priority for community health members. We're pleased to announce that a new Mental Health and Wellness Benefit will be added to your Extended Health Benefits Plan effective January 1, 2026. This enhancement marks another important step toward achieving benefit parity with the FBA. 

This new benefit is part of a special joint pilot project co-sponsored by the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) and the Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT). Here are the details: 

• Effective Date: January 1, 2026 
• Annual Limit: A combined maximum of $1000 per calendar year. 
• What's Covered: 
   - Registered Psychologist
   - Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) – this is an online- only benefit through specific PBC-approved providers. Learn more here:  PBC's Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 
   - Registered Clinical Counsellor 
   - Registered Social Worker 
   - Marriage and Family Therapist 

• Reimbursement: Up to the Pacific Blue Cross (PBC) reasonable and customary limit per visit, subject to coinsurance. 

• Eligibility: This benefit is for eligible members only. 
• Pilot Period: This pilot project benefit enhancement will be re-evaluated annually. 

For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below. 

This new benefit marks another step forward in improving access to meaningful mental health supports for community health workers. The CBA remains committed to ensuring your benefits evolve to reflect the realities of your work and the care you provide every day. 

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If I paid for the services of a registered psychologist in December 2025, can I submit this claim in January 2026? 
No, this benefit only applies to claims with the date of service/purchase on or after January 1, 2026. 

Do I have access to this benefit if I am a casual employee? 
Eligible casual employees purchasing Dental and Extended Health coverage have access to the mental health benefit. 

Will each of my eligible dependents be reimbursed for these services? 
No. The benefit does not extend to your eligible dependents despite being enrolled under your benefits plan. 

Where should I submit a mental health claim that happened at work? 
For a mental health injury that happened at work, the claim should be submitted to Work Safe BC. Visit mental health injury claims (WSBC) for more information. 

If I have been on Long Term Disability (LTD) prior to April 1, 2017, am I covered under the Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT) Plan? 
Members represented by the Community Bargaining Association who were disabled prior to April 1, 2017, are covered by the Healthcare Benefit Trust, not the JCBT. As a result, plan changes do not apply to these members. 

What are Reasonable and Customary Limits? 
Reasonable and customary (R&C) limits are the range of usual fees for comparable medical services in a geographic area. Please visit: Understanding Reasonable and Customary Limits for more information. 

How do I know if my provider is registered? 
PBC requires that the practitioner be recognized and regulated by a governing body and/or college. Please visit: Is your practitioner registered? for more information. 

Do I have to pay for these plan changes? 
No, this benefit is a JCBT and CBA co-sponsored special pilot project fully funded by the Ministry of Health. Eligible casual employees and members who are on leave or in receipt of LTD benefits are required to pay for their extended health benefits. 

Who can I contact about these plan changes? 
You may send your questions and/or feedback to [email protected]. 

Where can I find more information about an Extended Health claim issue or reimbursement amount? 
Please contact PBC Call Center at Lower Mainland: 604 419-2000, Toll-free: 1 877 PAC-BLUE (1 877 722-2583) or at https://www.pac.bluecross.ca/contact for questions or concerns about your Extended Health and Dental claim reimbursement. In addition, PBC has a Frequently Asked Questions page. 

What other Mental Health Resources are available?

Please visit the following webpages: 

• PBC Mental Health Resources 
• Canadian Mental Health Association of BC (CHMA) Resources 
• Canada Life Workplace Strategies for Mental Health 

Ask your employer about your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). 

Who is funding this JCBT and CBA co-sponsored special pilot project? 
On September 9, 2024, the Ministry of Health announced supports for allied health, clinical support workers. As part of the announcement, the province provided $20 million to CBA to deliver supports for professional development, mental health, and wellness to members. In partnership with JCBT, a significant percentage of these funds will deliver early access to Mental Health and Wellness support. For more information, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0054-000666. 

What happens when the Mental Health and Wellness JCBT and CBA co-sponsored special funding pilot project ends? 
As your benefits provider, the Joint Community Benefits Trust will be reviewing the design of the Benefits Plan for JCBT members throughout the special funding pilot project. 

Who is the Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT)? 
The Joint Community Benefits Trust (JCBT)is an Employee Life & Health Trust (ELHT) that was established April 1, 2017, to provide employee benefits to members of the Community Bargaining Association of BC and their dependents. The JCBT provides Extended Health and Dental, Long-Term Disability, Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits. The Joint Community Benefits Trust retains Pacific Blue Cross and Canada Life as claims paying agents to carry out the claims adjudication and claims payment functions in respect of the Plan's benefits. 

UWU/MoveUP

Strike vote is OPEN

Dear Member,

Our strike authorization vote opened yesterday – and your voting credentials have been sent to your personal email address. 

If you haven't voted yet, check for an email with your credentials from [email protected]. If you can't find the email, please check your spam or junk folder. 

Still can't find it? Reach out to [email protected] or 833-833-3297 to confirm the personal email address we have on file, and for other troubleshooting support. 

Your bargaining committee is recommending that all members vote 'YES' to show we're united and ready to fight for a fair deal that includes: 

• Fair funding for our benefits. Just like the FBA, our benefit trust deserves full funding retroactive to 2021. 
• Fair access to overtime. We want to see the expansion of overtime by seniority to ensure overtime opportunities are allocated fairly, curtailing assignments offered by convenience or through personal relationships. 
• Protection against 'gig work' scheduling. CHWs deserve the same security of fixed shifts and breaks that other health care workers have had for decades. We need protections to ensure employers cannot return to the precarious scheduling practices CHWs endured for 30 years. 
• Equal pay for equal work. Wages, shift premiums, vacation, and other monetary entitlements must be brought up to the same level as other HEABC health care workers doing the same work, ensuring fairness and equity across the sector. 

This isn't a vote to walk out tomorrow. In fact, a strong 'YES' vote could put pressure on the employer to come back to the table with a more reasonable offer. That's why the best way to avoid a strike is to vote YES. 

Have questions? Join an information session

If you have questions about how we reached impasse, or why a strong 'YES' vote is so important, join members of your bargaining committee at any of the following sessions which start today. (Note: all times are PST). 

💻 Zoom Sessions 

• Tuesday, Nov 4 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov 6 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 
• Saturday, Nov 15 – 12:00 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov 20 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 

🔗 Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 871 0569 3517 Passcode: 173229 

☎ Telephone Townhall

• • Wednesday, Nov 12 – 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. We'll call every member covered under the CBA collective agreement that we have a phone number for. When you get called, just stay on the line -you'll be automatically connected to the event. If you want to make sure you get called, please log in to Member Portal and make sure we have your current home or personal cell phone number. We would like to remind you that you can't use your employer's email system or your work phone to stay in touch with our union. 

Please also visit your bargaining hub and the Community Health FAQ for resources and updates related to Community Health bargaining. 

It's critical that our union has your current personal contact information so you can participate in the strike vote and stay informed. Please log in to the BCGEU Member Portal and click "Manage Contact Info" to confirm your personal email and phone number are up to date. Encourage your co-workers to do the same – especially if they aren't receiving union emails. 

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

Scott De Long, Bargaining Chair and BCGEU Vice-President Community Health Services 
Charmaine Fines, Treasurer of Component 8, Local 802 
David Fox, Local 801 
Florentina Kelly, Local 803 
Shelly Einarson, Local 804 
Melanie Mason, Local 809 
Jeremy Williams, Local 803 
Richard Tones, BCGEU Staff Representative 

UWU/MoveUP

STRIKE VOTE - NOTICE OF POLL

Dear members covered by the CBA, 

Despite nearly 20 days at the bargaining table this year, your bargaining committee has not seen meaningful progress on the key priorities identified by members. As a result, negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the provincial government reached an impasse on October 3, 2025.


Because we have not reached a deal, we are now moving to a strike authorization vote. 

🗳 Voting opens: Monday, November 3 at 12:00 p.m. (PST) 
🗳 Voting closes: Thursday November 27 at 12:00 p.m. (PST)


On November 3, watch your inbox for an email with your ballot to vote.

Voting will be done online through Simply Voting, an independent and neutral third party. Individual responses will not be released, only aggregate results will be shared.

When you receive your ballot on Monday, please read and follow the voting instructions contained in the email carefully and answer the question on the ballot by selecting one of the two choices provided:

Once you have made your choice and submitted your vote it cannot be changed.

Vote YES to authorize a strike

A strong "YES" vote sends a clear message to our employer: we are united, we are serious, and we are ready to fight for the fairness, stability and respect we need in our next collective agreement. 

Our priorities are clear: 

• Fair funding for our benefits. Just like the FBA, our benefit trust deserves full funding retroactive to 2021. 

• Fair access to overtime. We want to see the expansion of overtime by seniority to ensure overtime opportunities are allocated fairly, curtailing assignments offered by convenience or through personal relationships. 

• Protection against 'gig work' scheduling. CHWs deserve the same security of fixed shifts and breaks that other health care workers have had for decades. We need protections to ensure employers cannot return to the precarious scheduling practices CHWs endured for 30 years. 

• Equal pay for equal work. Wages, shift premiums, vacation, and other monetary entitlements must be brought up to the same level as other HEABC health care workers doing the same work, ensuring fairness and equity across the sector. 

Remember: a positive strike vote does not automatically mean a strike will happen. It is a powerful tool to help us negotiate the agreement we all deserve. 

Have questions? Join an information session

If you have questions about how we reached impasse or why a strong "YES" vote is so important, join members of your bargaining committee at any of the following sessions. 

All times in Pacific Time 

💻 Zoom Sessions 

• Tuesday, Nov 4 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov 6 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 
• Saturday, Nov 15 – 12:00 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov 20 – 12:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. 

Join Zoom Meeting 
Meeting ID: 871 0569 3517 
Passcode: Please contact [email protected] for password

☎ Telephone Townhall 

Wednesday, Nov 12 – 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. We'll call every member covered under the CBA collective agreement that we have a phone number for. When you get called, just stay on the line - you'll be automatically connected to the event. If you want to make sure you get called, please log in to Member Portal and make sure we have your current home or personal cell phone number. We would like to remind you that you can't use your employer's email system or your work phone to stay in touch with our union.

The public service tentative agreement

On October 26, the BCGEU reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government for public service workers. We applaud fellow BCGEU members for their strength and unity throughout their eight-week strike. The gains they achieved pave the way for meaningful improvements at our own bargaining table. 

Keep your contact information up to date

It's critical that our union has your current personal contact information so you can participate in the strike vote and stay informed. Please log in to the BCGEU Member Portal and click "Manage Contact Info" to confirm your personal email and phone number are up to date. Encourage your co-workers to do the same – especially if they aren't receiving union emails. 

Stand up for fairness and respect

This strike vote is our opportunity to stand up for what's right - fair pay, fair treatment, and real respect for the work we do. Together, we'll show the employer that community health workers across the province are united and ready to fight for the agreement we deserve. 

🗳 Don't forget to check your personal email on November 3 for your online ballot – voting closes on November 27 at 12:00 p.m. (PST).  

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

UWU/MoveUP

Dear members covered by the CBA, 

Last Friday, your CBA Bargaining Committee declared that negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the provincial government had reached an impasse. 

We are now moving toward a strike vote. As we prepare for next steps, your bargaining committee invites you to attend a Zoom information session to hear updates and ask any questions. 

Each date below will include two sessions - at 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. (PST) - unless otherwise noted. You can either attend the session designated for your local or drop in to any other session that fits your schedule. 

Zoom Session Schedule 

• October 15, 2025 – Local 804 
• October 16, 2025 – Local 803 
• October 20, 2025 – Locals 806, 808 & 809 
• October 21, 2025 – Locals 801 & 802 
• October 22, 2025 – Locals 805 & 807 
• October 23, 2025 – Locals 810, 811 & 812 
• October 25, 2025 – All Locals (11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. PST) 
• October 30, 2025 – All Locals 

────────── 

Your bargaining committee appreciates your continued support and engagement as we move through this critical stage of negotiations. 

Together, we'll ensure our voices are heard and that the work we do in our communities is respected and valued. 

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

Scott De Long, Bargaining Chair and BCGEU Vice-President Community Health Services Charmaine Fines, Treasurer of Component 8, Local 802 
David Fox, Local 801 
Florentina Kelly, Local 803 
Shelly Einarson, Local 804 
Melanie Mason, Local 809 
Jeremy Williams, Local 803 
Richard Tones, BCGEU Staff Representative 

P.S. As we move forward it is critical that our union has your up-to-date personal contact information to ensure you are kept informed and prepared. Please log in to the BCGEU Member Portal and click "Manage Contact Info" to confirm your personal email address and phone number are up to date. Encourage your co-workers to do the same if they haven't done so already.

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

October 3, 2025 

CBA announces talks have broken down and reached impasse; Nearly 23,000 healthcare workers set to join BCGEU/PEA Strike 

VICTORIA, B.C. – Members of the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) – including 13,000 represented by the BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) – announced this morning that negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) have broken down and have reached impasse.

CBA members work in critical, community-based health services across B.C., including drug and alcohol treatment centres, adult day care, detox and emergency shelters, women's clinics, seniors' services, mental health group homes, home support, and more. Despite bargaining since March, the employer has failed to meaningfully engage on key non-monetary issues that matter most to frontline workers. 

"CBA members serve some of the most vulnerable people in B.C.," said Scott De Long, CBA Bargaining Chair and BCGEU Vice-President Community Health Services. "They work on the front lines of community health-often in precarious, high-risk environments-and they've been underpaid and undervalued for over 30 years. Our members are simply asking for fairness and equity, and they've more than earned it." 

The BCGEU is one of seven unions in the Community Bargaining Association, which represents nearly 23,000 workers across B.C. 

-30- 

For more information, contact BCGEU Communications:

Nadja Komnenic: [email protected] | 604.442.2289 

Backgrounder: htts://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service

UWU/MoveUP

BCGEU,  

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. PST this afternoon your CBA Bargaining Committee declared that negotiations had reached an impasse with Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the provincial government. 

After almost 20 days at the bargaining table since March, we have been unable to address the most acute bargaining priorities identified by members. Specifically: 

• The retroactive removal of the Investment Return Guarantee Adjustment (IRGA) that has transferred millions of dollars from your benefit trust back to HEABC employers that would otherwise be used to solidify and expand your health benefits and avoid falling further behind other healthcare workers, most of which work for the same employers. 

• The expansion of overtime by seniority to curtail the offering of overtime by convenience and relationships. 

• Giving Community Health Workers (CHWs) the security of fixed shifts and breaks that other health care workers have had for decades and ensuring employers can't revert to the 'gig work' scheduling that CHWs endured for 30 years. 

• Fixing the wages, shift premiums, vacation, and other monetary entitlements to the same rates of other HEABC healthcare workers doing the same work. 

We have not taken this decision lightly, and in the absence of an offer that meets these demands, we are likely to conduct a strike vote. Over the coming weeks your BCGEU delegates to the CBA bargaining committee will be working on a member engagement plan as well as determining the best method and timing to conduct a strike vote. 

As we move forward it is critical that our union has your up-to-date personal contact information to ensure you are kept informed and prepared. Please log in to the BCGEU Member Portal and click "Manage Contact Info" to confirm your personal email address and phone number are up to date. Encourage your co-workers to do the same if they haven't done so already. 

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

Scott De Long, Bargaining Chair and BCGEU Vice-President Community Health Services
Charmaine Fines, Treasurer of Component 8, Local 802 
David Fox, Local 801 
Florentina Kelly, Local 803 
Shelly Einarson, Local 804 
Melanie Mason, Local 809 
Jeremy Williams, Local 803 
Richard Tones, BCGEU Staff Representative 

UWU/MoveUP

After a pause in negotiations, your CBA bargaining committee met with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) on September 24, 25, and 26, 2025.

Since March, your bargaining committee, along with delegates from six other constituent unions, has spent 19 days bargaining with the employer. Despite having exchanged full non-monetary proposals, progress had been limited to minor administrative updates.

Out of frustration with a lack of meaningful progress, we cancelled our July bargaining dates and asked you for feedback on next steps by hosting several town halls earlier this summer.

Your responses indicated clear priorities:

• Improved overtime language

• Greater mobility between employers

• Contract language equal to workers covered under the Facilities agreement 

Your bargaining delegates, along with those of six other unions, demanded meaningful progress by Friday September 26, 2025 on those specific priorities. We also asked the employer to address the historic underfunding of the Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) and for a final resolution to the funding of your benefit plan in line with that of other healthcare workers. We are pleased to report that your support and the resolve of your representatives has resulted in progress on these priorities. 

Although we have a long way to go, it is sufficient progress to continue talks with HEABC. There are two more days scheduled for talks on October 2 and 3, 2025, with further talks planned for the weeks of October 13 and 20. We will provide further updates as negotiations progress. 

As you know, BCGEU members in the public service have been on strike for several weeks, fighting for a fair deal. You can help support fellow public service workers on the lines by:

• Visiting a picket line near you, click here to see the list of picket locations.

• Sending an email to your MLA calling for a fair deal for public service workers.

• Sharing BCGEU social media content on Facebook and Instagram 

In solidarity, 
 
Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 

UWU/MoveUP

After a pause in negotiations, the CBA bargaining committee will return to the table with the employer for three days next week starting September 22. Two more days are scheduled for the week of September 29, with further talks planned for the weeks of October 13 and 20.  

Since March, your committee - alongside delegates from six other constituent unions - has spent 16 days in bargaining with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). Despite exchanging full non-monetary proposals, progress has been limited to minor administrative updates. Out of frustration with a lack of meaningful progress, we cancelled our July bargaining dates and reached out to you for feedback on next steps by hosting several town halls at the end of July. 
 

At the these town halls, members reiterated clear priorities: 

• Improved overtime language 

• Greater mobility between employers 

• Contract language equal to workers covered under the FBA 
   

Next week, we will remind the employer that any path to a tentative agreement must include a monetary offer that meaningfully addresses the affordability crisis facing public sector workers. 
 

BCGEU members in the public service have already been on strike for three weeks, fighting for exactly this. The government's below-inflation wage offer to them - 3.5% over two years - falls far short of the 4.9% inflation projected in B.C. over the same period. Public service workers are standing firm until they're offered a deal that reflects the real cost of living. (Check out photos from the picket lines here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgeu) 

Community health workers, and all workers across the public sector, need fair wage increases to stay in their jobs and continue delivering the critical services British Columbians rely on. We will update you again next week on our progress. 
 

In solidarity, 

Your Community Bargaining Association (CBA) Negotiating Committee 
 

PS. Help support public service workers on strike! Our union has launched a campaign to flood the inboxes of MLAs with emails calling for a fair deal for public service workers. Click here to send an email to your MLA today 

UWU/MoveUP