Negotiations between the nine-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) and the provincial Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) – which covers you and 17,000 other unionized workers in the sector – resumed yesterday.

The nine-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) has not been back to the negotiations table since the last update that we shared with you in early November but we wanted to let you know what is happening with the negotiation of your new collective agreement in the Indigenous Services, General Services, and Community Living sub-sectors.

Collective bargaining resumed between the nine-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) and the provincial Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) this past week to negotiate a new contract for 17,000 unionized workers in the sector.
 
However, on Monday, talks were suspended after the latest proposal put forward by the employers’ association failed to meet the needs identified by workers in the sector.
 

After returning to the negotiations table in mid-September, talks continued over wages and compensation with a focus on making gains in the areas that members have mandated the bargaining committee to achieve in this round of bargaining.
 
As it stands, the parties still do not agree on how to reach a tentative agreement that includes a fair and equitable compensation package, meaningful recognition and reconciliation for Indigenous workers, supporting psychologically safer and healthier workplaces and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.
 

As negotiations for the new collective agreement continue, talks are heating up between the Community Social Services Bargaining Association and representatives of the employers’ association.

This week, the Committee countered the employers’ wages and compensation offer. The Committee has heard loud and clear from members across the community social services sector that protection against the rising cost of living is a key priority.

In recognition of the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, the government of BC has advised provincial public sector employers to honour Monday, September 19, 2022 as a holiday. 

Last week, the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) was back at the negotiations table with the Community Social Services Employers Association of BC (CSSEA) to continue negotiations on a new collective agreement for 17,000 unionized workers in the community social sector.

The nine-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) was back at the table in the first two weeks of August for further discussions with the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA). The community social services sectoral agreements cover more than 17,000 unionized workers across the province and includes workers in the Community Living Services, General Services, and Indigenous Services sub-sectors.
 

Your community social services bargaining committee is preparing to head back to the table to negotiate a fair collective agreement that meets your needs and reflects your worth.
 

The Community Social Services Negotiating Committee was back at the bargaining table June 22 - 24.  We continued to work through a number of significant items, including further discussions on the monetary priorities put forward by community social service workers from all three sub-sectors -- Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services.