Community social services

In response to health care policy announcements released today by the BC United Party and the BC Conservative Party, the following statement is being issued by Kane Tse, President of the Health Sciences Association of BC. Health Sciences Association of BC is the union representing more than 22,000 specialized professionals working in BC’s health care and community social services system...

June 14, 2024 Update: Pacific Blue cross has informed members that Pacific Blue Cross will be postponing the upcoming AGM, originally scheduled for June 19, 2024, to a later date, yet to be determined. This includes all associated processes, including the Directors Election. HSA members have fought hard for our extended health benefits, and to access them we rely on...

This is a reminder of changes to the sick leave provisions in the Community Social Services - Community Living Services, General Services, and Indigenous Services collective agreements. These changes were agreed in the last round of collective bargaining and take effect on April 1, 2024. Effective April 1, 2024, eligible employees will be entitled to sick pay at 100% for...

The new wage grids effective the first full pay period after April 1, 2024 for employees under the Community Social Services (CSS) - Community Living Services, General Services, and Indigenous Services collective agreements are now available. The April 1, 2024 wage grids reflect application of the negotiated 2% general wage increase (GWI) plus a full additional 1% cost of living...

After months of working to force employers to pay retroactive wages, owed to many community social services workers in the Community Social Services Bargaining Association at worksites across the province, Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) employers have been ordered to pay missing wages – with interest – by December 31, 2023. These wage increases were achieved in bargaining and...

We are still hearing from CSS members that many employers are significantly behind in scheduled payment of the negotiated pay increases. The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) is continuing to push the employer to provide immediate solutions. CSSBA recently met with Community Social Services Employer’s Association (CSSEA) regarding the policy grievance on these significant issues. We were unable to...

Health Sciences Association of BC has contracted Viewpoints Research to conduct the annual survey to learn about member priorities and concerns as the union assesses ongoing issues arising from shortages, patient wait times and excessive workload. Viewpoints Research an industry leader with 30 years of experience conducting research for unions and other progressive organizations. Using an experienced third-party professional research...

HSA continues to hear from Community Social Service Bargaining Association members who are waiting for employers to provide the wage increases and retro pay negotiated in the new contract. HSA is working through the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) to resolve this as soon as possible. CSSBA has sent notice to the Community Social Services Employer’s Association (CSSEA) regarding...

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) was recently made aware that some of our members have still not been paid the negotiated retroactive low wage redress and general wage increases. We have also been told that some employers have advised of significant delays in paying our members the negotiated wage increases. The CSSBA did not agree to these delays...

New wage grids for members working in community social services have been finalized. The new grids reflect the increases negotiated for the new 2022-2025 collective agreement and ratified by members last month, and are to take effect the first full pay period after April 1, 2022 (retroactive) and the first full pay period after April 1, 2023. Read the wage...