Health care workers in Chillwack seniors’ home join BCGEU

More than 30 workers at a Valleyhaven Guest Home in Chilliwack voted unanimously in favour of joining the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to make their workplace better.

The licensed practical nurses, care aides, dietary aides, housekeeping and activity staff who are employed at the seniors’ facility voted 100 percent in favour of joining BCGEU last week.

"We are pleased that the workers at Valleyhaven have chosen BCGEU as the best union to bargain on their behalf and ensure that they have security and respect in the workplace," says union president Darryl Walker.

The next step for the seniors’ care centre workers is to form a negotiating committee, develop bargaining proposals and then begin talks with their employer for a first contract.

"We are doing more than any other union in the province to bring the benefits of union membership to the many B.C. workers who want to join," says Walker.

BCGEU represents 65,000 members in the public and private sectors, including over 14,000 who work in health care.