While BCGEU community social service workers voted 85.7 per cent overall in favour of ratifying the new collective agreement, voter turnout as well as support for the Indigenous Services (previously Aboriginal Services) agreement was low. This agreement was ratified by only 50.9 per cent of the vote.
 
"While our negotiating team did the very best it could, we know there is still some distance to go in getting a deal that receives strong support," says Andrea Duncan, BCGEU, Chair of the negotiating committee. "Not only do we have to make up for 16 years of neglect in terms of funding and workload issues, new protocols around culturally appropriate services and training must also be better recognized and supported. We know we aren't there yet, but this is the work of our union – to continue the fight for the wages, hours and working conditions we deserve."
 
Therefore, although we made significant improvements in this round, we recognize that there is still work to do.
 
Many of you questioned how the temporary market adjustments were negotiated. To be clear, the temporary market adjustments were negotiated at the Public Service bargaining table and not at the Community Social Services Aboriginal (now Indigenous) Services bargaining table. These are two different bargaining tables. Because Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs) under Indigenous Services have parity with Public Service wages for delegated positions, our delegated social workers receive the same temporary market adjustments that were negotiated at the Public Service bargaining table.
 
We have always taken the position that DAAs should have parity with Public Service, and not just in terms of wages. Your union is committed to doing the work over the next three years to further close these gaps and membership meetings will take place across the province in late spring. Through building a network of leaders at these agencies and supporting ongoing dialogue, we will build on what we achieved this year while continuing to push government to better support our sector so that in turn, you can better support those that depend on you.
 
Please share this email with your co-workers. Members are also encouraged to keep their email information up to date. To provide updated contact information, please visit the member portal at my.bcgeu.ca.


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