CSS Bargaining Update: Narrowing in on high-stakes issues
It’s a new year, and we’re officially back in bargaining! For the last three weeks we’ve been meeting with the employers’ group, negotiating straight through Jan. 26 to 30, with more dates scheduled for February 2 to 5 and 17 to 18 — stay tuned for updates.
As you know, money-related issues are on the bargaining table now along with the outstanding non-monetary issues. That means the conversations are getting meatier and more difficult, and we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
By the time we wrapped on Friday Jan. 16, the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA) tabled a partial counteroffer to our second monetary package. This week we reviewed the response in detail and presented our own counter.
On Jan. 26 and 27 our Indigenous Services Bargaining Committee also had important and substantive conversations with our employers, specific to the sub-sector. Those of us on the committee who work in Indigenous Services remain committed to the bargaining work at the main table while we engage in these critical issue-specific talks that directly impact Indigenous Service workers.
The Strategy Moving Forward
Now that we’re narrowing in on the high-stakes items that you said matter most to you, the talks are getting tough. This is expected — topics that are so consequential to members deserve time, attention and resolve. It probably goes without saying that employers don’t always share the same priorities as workers!
Community-centered employers, by definition, can only improve operations by putting community first, but they must remember that the community includes you. In this spirit, we’re working to understand the thrust behind CSSEA’s proposals, so we can show them where their objectives square with our bargaining demands.
Employers don’t have your vantage-point. The frontlines see how better working conditions will improve services, and as a committee, it’s our job to spotlight this cause-and-effect relationship. So long as CSSEA engages meaningfully with that valuable intel, we’ll continue to take a solutions-oriented approach.
As always, our goal is to translate your very reasonable demand for actual support into the best possible contract language. The passion that you (our co-workers!) have for your work continues to be a source of confidence and a compass for us at the table. When we reach pivotal points in our talks, we’ll be looking to you for guidance, so please continue to clarify with your coworkers what’s a must in this round.
In solidarity,
Your Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) Negotiating Committee