Health and social service workers delivering in-person, front-line care can expect a raise.
B.C. government has announced that more than 250,000 eligible front-line workers will receive temporary pandemic pay in a lump-sum payment of about $4 per hour for a 16-week period that dates back to March 15.
Workers who are eligible will receive the increased pay directly through their employer and do not need to apply.
“From care aids to domestic violence workers, to people working in corrections and others delivering essential addictions and mental health supports, our front-line workers are providing vital support to people who are most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Carole James, minister of finance, in a press release. “Temporary pandemic pay recognizes all that our health and social service workers do to help keep people healthy, our communities running and deliver important care and services to the most vulnerable during this challenging time.”
The temporary pandemic pay is part of the province’s $5-billion COVID-19 Action Plan and is part of a cost-shared program with the federal government, according to the provincial government.
“People at the front lines of the pandemic are working tirelessly to keep us and our loved ones healthy, while also delivering services to the most vulnerable in our community,” added James. “This cost-shared program with the federal government will benefit thousands of British Columbia’s front-line health and social service workers.”
The province said in addition to the temporary pandemic pay, a planned minimum wage increase is set for June 1 and notes that there is a planned “enhanced B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit boost” scheduled for July 2020, which they say will double the annual benefit amount for low- and middle-income people.
However, the B.C. Government and Services Employees’ Union (BCGEU) wants to see the province expand the program to cover more essential frontline workers, saying that thousands of their members, such as those working at public liquor and cannabis stores and warehouses, have been left out.
“From the moment this funding was announced by the federal government, our goal as a union was to make sure B.C.’s program covered the broadest possible swath of frontline essential workers,” Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president, said in a release, adding. “And our goal hasn’t changed. This kind of patchwork recognition creates arbitrary divisions at a moment when unity and solidarity among workers is more important than ever. We’re grateful for those who are covered, but we will keep fighting for those who aren’t.”
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