BC’s community health workers vote overwhelmingly to authorize historic strike

A 30-year peace ends as BC’s frontline caregivers push back. Without change, seniors’ care and shelters could face crippling shortages—will talks restart in time?

, and Administrator

2025 November 28 . 7:31 PM

1 min read

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BC’s community health workers vote overwhelmingly to authorize historic strike

Community health workers in British Columbia have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The decision comes after contract negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC collapsed earlier this month. Nearly 26,000 workers, represented by the Community Bargaining Association, could now walk out for the first time in 30 years.

The union announced that 92.3 per cent of its members backed the strike vote. This follows a breakdown in talks on October 3, leaving key demands unresolved. Workers are pushing for fairer pay, better benefits, and stronger scheduling protections.

The Community Bargaining Association represents staff who support seniors ageing at home, as well as those in shelters and detox programmes. They argue that long-standing inequities and unfair treatment are forcing workers to leave the sector. Without improvements, they warn, essential community services could become unstable.

A strike is not yet guaranteed, as the union remains open to further negotiations. Their demands include equal pay for equal work, overtime rules based on seniority, and funding parity with other health-care workers.

The vote marks a historic moment for community health workers, who have not taken such action since the 1990s. While no immediate walkout is planned, the strong mandate signals growing frustration over working conditions. The next steps will depend on whether talks resume and progress is made.