Native Courtworkers present 2000 letters of support to B.C. Legislature

VANCOUVER, Nov. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Five BCGEU Native Courtworkers are headed to the B.C. Legislature today in Victoria to present more than 2,000 letters of support asking the government to give them equal pay for equal work.

"B.C. government policy treats Native Courtworkers differently than other workers who do similar work. It's time for the B.C. government to fix this injustice," says BCGEU President Stephanie Smith.

B.C. Native Courtworkers are currently taking job action around the province to highlight the discriminatory wages and benefits they receive compared to other public workers performing similar work.

Native Courtworkers provide culturally-appropriate court-related services and counselling to Aboriginal clients entering the criminal justice system in 20 B.C. communities.

Their starting wage is only $31,800 a year, compared to $45,100 for a comparable classification under the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) Aboriginal Services agreement.

Native Courtworkers haven't had a pay raise since 2009, and only a 9% pay raise since 2002. Their current contract with the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia, which is funded by the B.C. government, expired in 2011.

To date, the B.C. government has failed to include Native Courtworkers into the CSSEA Aboriginal Services agreement.

The Native Courtworkers have received support from B.C.'s First Nations Leadership Council and other Aboriginal organizations.

SOURCE: B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union

Media, please contact: Oliver Rohlfs, BCGEU Communications [phone] - [email protected]