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COMPONENT 3 - COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES

Component 3 includes members who work in community social services.

These caring professionals provide supports, services, and resources to vulnerable families and individuals across the province. They include supporting adults and children with developmental disabilities, women and children fleeing violence, youth-at-risk, child care, community justice services, Aboriginal services, and employment services, among others. With over 12,000 workers in the sector, BCGEU is the largest community social services union in B.C.

NEWS & UPDATES

October 18, 2016

Oxfam Canada launches new campaign for gender equality

Oxfam Canada is launching a new campaign this week called Shortchanged. The campaign’s goal is to shift the public debate on care responsibilities and build a movement of people who want to accelerate progress for women. In particular, the campaign will help create awareness and mobilize Canadians around the issue of women’s inequality in work.  In the coming months, Shortchanged will challe...

October 17, 2016

Social workers rally in Chilliwack over caseload issues

Staff at Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society (FVACFSS), held a rally Thursday night in Chilliwack to draw attention to what they say is a crisis in aboriginal child and family services in the Fraser Valley. Read more...

October 17, 2016

BC child welfare workers, citing high caseloads, rally to back union bid

Social workers rallied outside the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society Thursday in the latest step in a year-long campaign to join one of the province’s largest unions. Read more...

October 14, 2016

Social workers rally to improve services for aboriginal children and families

Staff at Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society (FVACFSS) rallied outside the agency's main office in Chilliwack on Thursday October 13 to draw attention to the crisis in aboriginal child and family services in the Fraser Valley. BCGEU president Stephanie Smith spoke at the event. "You need a voice in your worksite to be able to address workload issues," says Smith ".....

October 14, 2016

Occupational Health and Safety Committee Representatives in Area 07 - BC Fede...

The “Occupational Health” course will be offered at the Okanagan area office in Kelowna on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. This course will be delivered by a facilitator from the BC Federation of Labour Health and Safety Centre. Health hazards are not as obvious and apparent as safety hazards in the workplace and as such often don’t receive proper attention and resources co...

October 14, 2016

Surrey Association for Community Living - Steward Nominations – Four positions

Please be advised that there is a vacancy for four stewards to represent members at Surrey Association for Community Living.  Please find attached nomination form. Completed nomination forms are to be returned to the union no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 14, 2016. Please post the notice and nomination forms at your worksite. Completed forms may be returned via email to [email protected]

October 13, 2016

Good news for BCGEU members in the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP)

The MPP is reporting a surplus. It’s largely a result of higher than expected investment returns. That’s good news for the BCGEU members in Community Social Services and Community Health enrolled in the plan. Here’s a snapshot of what we learned at the MPP’s board meeting on September 22, 2016:  ·         The MPP is fully funded at 104.6 per cent. ·         The discount rate was adjusted fro...

October 12, 2016

Salvation Army Belkin House and Richmond House - Bargaining Update

Your Bargaining Committee has met on several occasions to discuss Belkin House Issues. We have been able to make some progress for members in the Belkin House Local 303, and we will be meeting Thursday, October 13 to advance interests for Richmond House BCGEU Members. In other related news, the Bargaining Committee is happy to announce that one of its Members, Lea Salov, is a proud new mothe...

October 12, 2016

Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society Ratification Results

To:     All Members of Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society Re:     Ratification Results   The ratification meetings and vote concluded on October 11, 2016. Ballots were counted and the members have ratified the tentative agreement by a strong majority. Thank you for your continued support.   In solidarity, Your Bargaining Committee: Ray Seto Selena Kongpreecha, Staff Represen...

October 11, 2016

No wonder B.C. child-welfare workers are seeking union membership

No wonder B.C. child-welfare workers are seeking union membership   Premier Christy Clark was swift to blame a government-funded aboriginal childprotection agency for the death of Alex Gervais, a teenaged boy who was placed in a hotel instead of a foster home last year against government policy. For the workers at that agency, the Premier’s threat of consequences came as a gut-punch, given the...

October 11, 2016

Mission Community Services Steward Nominations

To:    All BCGEU Members at Mission Community Services Re:    Steward Nominations – two positions   Please be advised there are vacancies for two steward positions to represent members at Mission Community Services. Please find attached nomination form. Completed nomination forms are to be returned to the union no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2016. Nomination form(s) may be s...

October 07, 2016

U-Hill Kinderclub Bargaining Questionnaire

To:     All BCGEU Members at U-Hill Kinderclub Re:     Bargaining Questionnaire – We Need your Input!   As bargaining committee nominations are now underway, we will soon be preparing proposals that we will present to the Employer. All members are encouraged to take the time to provide input by completing the attached bargaining questionnaire. Please return the completed questionnaire to Sar...

October 07, 2016

BCGEU makes budget submission to Finance Committee

BCGEU president Stephanie Smith made a presentation to the B.C. Select Standing Committee on Finance and Governnment Services today, outlining the union’s priorities for the upcoming provincial budget. Smith noted that it’s time to chart a different course in British Columbia and urged the government to take steps to accomplish three main objectives – quality jobs for all British Columbians; r...

October 05, 2016

U-Hill Kinderclub - Call for Bargaining Committee Nominations

In preparation for negotiations, a new bargaining committee must be elected to participate in the bargaining process. Call for nominations for: One (1) Bargaining Unit Chair One (1) Bargaining Unit Chair – Alternate If there are more nominations than positions available, the union will conduct an election. In order to be nominated, a member and nominator must complete the nomination fro...

October 04, 2016

Local 310 Union Meeting

COMPONENT: Community Social Services LOCAL:           0310 DATE:            October 18th, 2016 TIME:             5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PLACE:           Peace River Area Office                       10251 100th Street                       Fort St. John  BC    AGENDA Meet and Greet with Component 3 Vice President and Local Executive Chili Dinner (with vegetarian option) Door Prizes! Reso...

September 30, 2016

Local 312 Election Update

To:     ALL BCGEU LOCAL 312 MEMBERS Re:     Local 312 Election Update   Please be advised that Salomon Garcia has been acclaimed as the Equity Member-at-Large. As such, the Executive is as follows:   Chairperson – Dorothy Bartsoff 1st Vice Chairperson – Lucia Morton 2nd Vice Chairperson – Gloria Brown Treasurer – Tammy Campbell Recorder – Sarah Browne Member-at-Large – Katherine Cervas Young...

September 30, 2016

Watch: Stephanie Smith looks back on a busy week and speaks about the importa...

BCGEU president Stephanie Smith looks back on a busy week in Victoria that included worksite visits, a member BBQ and the Union of BC Municipalities convention. She also honours the work of Phyllis Webstad on Orange Shirt Day. Have a look:

September 30, 2016

Election of Bargaining Committee for Victoria Native Friendship Centre Members

To:    BCGEU Members working at Victoria Native Friendship Centre Re:    Election of Bargaining Committee   Notice to Bargain The BCGEU recently gave formal notice to the employer to commence the bargaining process because the current collective agreement term ends on October 1, 2016.  Of course your collective agreement remains in full force and effect until a new agreement is negotiated an...

September 29, 2016

Local 310 Community Social Services Union Meeting

COMPONENT:   Community Social Services LOCAL:             0310 DATE:              October 18th, 2016 TIME:               5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PLACE:             Peace River Area Office                        10251 100th Street                        Fort St. John  BC    AGENDA Meet and Greet with Component 3 Vice President and Local Executive Chili Dinner (with vegetarian option) Door Pr...