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CSSEA opens bargaining by offering workers 'zero'

'That’s not good enough. The work our members do is vital to the health and welfare of our communities.' - Josef Rieder.

Vancouver (8 June 2010) - The Health Sciences Association of British Columbia (HSABC/NUPGE) has rejected a 'zero' wage increase offer presented by negotiators for the provincial Liberal government to community social services (CSS) workers.

"The Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) tabled a concessionary package offering no monetary gains," HSABC says in an update for members.

Josef Rieder represents HSABC at the bargaining table with HSABC bargaining team chair Lynn Kelsey.

“CSSEA says the Liberal government is forcing them to stick to a ‘zero’ mandate, and is not able to offer any gains for our members,” Rieder said.

“That’s not good enough. The work our members do is vital to the health and welfare of our communities, but currently they’re the lowest paid workers in B.C.’s public sector. After years of cuts and concessions, the unions are emphasizing that members need their rights restored and they need real gains.”

More meetings are scheduled this week. The last agreement expired on March 31 but remains in effect while a new collective agreement is being negotiated.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA), which includes HSABC, bargains on behalf of 15,000 unionized community-based social services workers in B.C.

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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE