Community living workers staging one-day strike tomorrow

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – About 3,400 workers who help adults and children with disabilities will stage a one-day strike across Wednesday to press demands for higher wages.

Patsy Harmston of the BC Government and Service Employees Union says starting wages are $15 an hour, a dollar less than 10 years ago, resulting in many of the workers having trouble making ends meet.

The union also says more than 40 per cent of the workers have been forced to cut services to their clients because of budget cuts.

The 24-hour job action will affect the Richmond-based Developmental Disabilities Association and the Burnaby-based PosAbilities, the two largest community social service agencies in BC.

Agencies in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Vanderhoof, Trail, Salmon Arm, Castlegar, Creston and Cranbrook will also be picketed.

The union says it wants to send a clear message to the BC government to stop putting the squeeze on programs and staff that help people with disabilities.

BCGEU continuing their picketing

Upcoming events at BC Place are up in the air, including Year of the Snake celebrations and the Boat Show.

Karen Tankard with the BCGEU says Pav-Co did not come back to the table after the first day of job action involving stadium staff, so pickets will be up until further notice.

“I can’t really say what roll our members will have in any of the upcoming events. That’s really up to BC Place to decide.”

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