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A tentative agreement has been reached on a two-year contract for workers in the community health sector, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today.

Community health employees include home-support workers who help the elderly in their own homes, alcohol and drug counsellors, staff at adult day centres as well as child development centres and those working in mental health group homes. Many people working in community health are employed by contracted agencies, while some work for the Province's health authorities.

"I'm pleased to see that a tentative agreement has been reached under the Province’s negotiating framework. Everyone involved has worked long and hard to get to this point," said Hansen. "The impact of the global financial situation on government’s finances means that there is no money for compensation increases in this round of bargaining and this agreement shows that negotiators were able to come up with creative solutions during these difficult economic times."

"The agreement is a win for both community health-care workers and the often vulnerable people they care for as it ensures continuity of care without interruption," said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. "We are confident that mutually beneficial negotiations with other health sector unions are possible in the months ahead."

The majority of unionized employees in the community health sector are represented by the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union, with the balance represented by nine other unions, including the Hospital Employees’ Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Together, the unions are accredited to bargain for all unionized employees as the Community Bargaining Association.

Ratification of the agreement will take place in the new year. There are about 17,000 people working in the community health sector.

"We are certainly pleased that we were able to reach this tentative agreement in such an expedient fashion," said Lee Doney, president and CEO of HEABC, the member association that acts as bargaining agent for B.C.’s publicly funded health employers. "This is beneficial to both employers and union partners as it provides some clarity and certainty in economically challenging times."

Government has already announced its intention to hold the line on wage increases during this round of bargaining. To protect jobs and preserve vital services British Columbians depend on, government has no funding for new wage increases as collective agreements are renewed.

More than 200,000 public sector workers are covered by contracts that expire between March 31, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010.