Community Service Workers
Our communities are facing a crisis
We have more people living on our streets, crowded into our jails, fighting with their addictions, and fending for themselves with mental illness or disabilities. We have more people and more families struggling to get by.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Community Service Workers support us. All we have to do is support them, too.
Their Stories
Stasia - Community Facilitator, BC.
Sheri - Addictions Counsellor, AB.
Roxanne - Community Health Worker, BC.
Susan - Youth Mental Health Clinician, BC.
Lucy - Community Nurse, ON.
Leanne - Social Service Worker student, ON.
Laurel - Career Practitioner, NS.
Kathie - Palliative Social Worker, AB.
Recent News
Independent advocate reaffirms call to bring seniors’ care back into government: BCGEU
BCGEU/NUPGE sees the report as supporting their call to restore seniors' care in B.C. by putting people before profits and bringing the sector back under government as a public service.
Sask Party still has more work to do on restoring public services, signing collective agreements
“It’s time for this government to step up and offer reasonable compensation to our workers to recognize the hard work and lack of support for services over the past 3 years." — Bob Bymoen, SGEU President
Manitoba's health care restructuring leaves more questions than answers
“How does forcing these organizations together improve patient care?” questions Gawronsky. “It really feels like it’s all about the bottom-line, instead of focusing on the health and wellness of Manitobans.” — Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President
People with addictions, mental illness will suffer if dozens of highly experienced workers laid off
“If she doesn’t change course, she’ll be marching some of the organization’s best talent, expertise, and know-how right out the door." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Only a public inquiry can reveal the full scope of money laundering in B.C.: BCGEU
Public polling has repeatedly shown that 3-in-4 British Columbians support a public inquiry into the multi-layered crisis.
BCGEU disappointed to see campaign opposing reform to improve seniors’ care
"This attempt to block much-needed reform to a sector in crisis and to better support home support workers is appalling. We realize the business interests of the BCCPA will be affected by this change, but it's time to put the well-being of people over profit and address the damage resulting from almost 20 years of privatization and underfunding in the sector." — Stephanie Smith, BCGEU President
MGEU wins 2 big Community Support grievances
MGEU/NUPGE works to rectify members' issues after employers violate collective agreements.
NUPGE raises concerns that federal funding could be used to subsidize privatization
Unless the Minister completely rejects the idea that the Social Finance Fund will be used to "bring private funding, incentives and discipline into social services," past experience shows we need to assume that it will be used to subsidize the privatization of social services.
2019 Voter's Guide Factsheets: Seniors
As NUPGE members who work to provide services for seniors can tell you, funding has not kept pace with need.
Community Service Workers Appreciation Day — November 6
"Let's take time to say thank you to those who take on such important work and support them as they fight for a better future for all of us." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President