Staff of the Northern John Howard Society based in Prince George have voted to join the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to make their workplace better.
The six counsellors and support staff help ex-offenders reintegrate into society and work with others who are in conflict with the law. They provide a variety of programs including career and job counselling, anger management, spousal abuse and couples counselling, and make prison visits.
"We're honoured that these workers have chosen BCGEU to help them make their workplace better, " says union president Darryl Walker. "They joined to ensure they have a voice in their workplace, and for a measure of security and certainty to deal with change."
Walker says the next step will be for the new members to form a bargaining committee and develop priorities for a first contract. Then negotiations will get underway with the employer.
So far this year close to 1,200 workers have joined BCGEU. "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 8,000 in Northern B.C.