Targeted job action in community social services will start next week, starting with a protest at Christy Clark’s constituency office in Vancouver today.

The multi-union bargaining committee has not taken the decision to strike lightly, but believes that job action is necessary to send the message that the B.C. government must stop putting the squeeze on community social services. The sector’s workers—including 2,500 CUPE members—need a fair and reasonable deal, including a wage increase.

“We are focusing our strike efforts on the B.C. government because we need a commitment from Victoria to recognize the vital role community social services– and the workers who provide them – play for vulnerable families in communities across the province,” says CUPE’s community social services coordinator Cheryl Colborne.

Community social services workers are conducting strategically targeted strike action on specific days in specific communities around B.C. The one-day job action next Tuesday in Vancouver (to be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.) will be followed by one-day job action in Kamloops on October 17, and Prince George on October 18. Further targeted job action will be announced in due course.

Workers will be contacted directly if their agency or workplace is a target for job action. Specific worksites in each community will be targeted for each day of action. Workers are asked not to take job action unless directed to do so by their unions.