Tentative labour deal reached with 26,000 B.C. community health workers

The Community Bargaining Association says it reached a tentative agreement with the B.C. government for more than 26,000 community health workers; details and a ratification timeline will be shared with members in the coming weeks.

More than 26,000 community health workers in British Columbia have a tentative labour deal with the provincial government, the Community Bargaining Association announced. The previous agreement expired almost a year ago. The association said the agreement was negotiated under the B.C. government's enhanced mandate and includes additional pay increases linked to low-wage redress. Details have not been released and the association said it will provide a summary and announce a ratification timeline to members in the coming weeks. Key details: - The Community Bargaining Association represents over 26,000 workers across seven unions, about 60 per cent of whom are members of the BC General Employees' Union. - Workers covered include those in home support, shelters, supportive housing, clinics, treatment programs and mental-health group homes. - The agreement was negotiated under the B.C. government's enhanced mandate and reportedly includes additional pay increases tied to low-wage redress for long-affected positions. - The BC General Employees' Union said the deal was reached with the government's bargaining agent, the Health Employers Association of BC. - Specific terms have not been released; the association will share a summary and announce a timeline for a ratification vote in the coming weeks. Summary: The tentative agreement, if ratified, would alter pay and related terms for the community health workers covered by the deal, with precise effects to be clarified in the summary to members. The association will circulate that summary and set a timeline for a ratification vote in the coming weeks. The timing and final details remain to be announced by the bargaining parties.