CBA tentative agreement reached: next steps

Following months of negotiations, the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) reached a tentative agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC), covering more than 26,000 community health workers across the province.

“Our CBA members deliver incredibly vital services in communities across BC, and this agreement is a meaningful step toward the recognition they deserve,” HSA President Sarah Kooner says. “The solidarity members showed throughout bargaining, backed by a strong strike mandate, sent a very clear message that it’s time to address long-standing inequities and better reflect the value of the work they do.”

HSA’s Board of Directors met on Tuesday to review the terms of the tentative agreement and is recommending members vote YES to accept the agreement. 

The tentative agreement has a four-year term and provides general wage increases of 12% over four years, the maximum possible under the government’s wage mandate, and equal to that offered other public service professionals in BC. The agreement also makes concrete steps towards closing the wage gap between the CBA and the FBA as well as improvements in a number of key areas. 

By early next week, the bargaining committee will provide a comprehensive summary of changes with members before they are asked to vote on ratification. You will be provided information on how and when to vote before the start of the voting period, which will occur in the third week of March. Members will also have an opportunity to take part in province-wide telephone town halls in the days leading up to the ratification vote where they can ask questions to the negotiating team. 
 
This tentative agreement represents the overwhelming solidarity between workers across seven unions, and the support you showed with the strong strike mandate in November, helped us achieve incredible gains. More information on the details of the tentative agreement will be available to members soon.