CSS Bargaining update: Progress on non-monetary issues; monetary proposals tabled
Your Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) committee continues to work hard at the table to deliver renewed collective agreements that reflect your priorities.
After 29 days of bargaining with the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA), we've reached agreement on several key non-monetary improvements. These include:
-
Improved language on employer-led investigations and disciplinary meetings
-
Stronger provisions around health and safety including where there are health and safety related workload issues
-
A requirement for the employer to consult employees before permanent transfers
-
Stewards’ email addresses to be provided to new employees
-
Changes to the expedited arbitration process
-
A commitment to renegotiate local issues after the renewal of main agreements
We’ve also made progress on housekeeping and formatting changes, and updated outdated terms like “residential” to “residence” to better reflect the work and settings of our members.
Discussions are ongoing on several important items including union meetings at worksites, technological change, harassment and bullying language, and leave provisions for casual employees.
Monetary proposals
On October 3rd, we tabled our monetary proposals. This allows CSSEA to begin reviewing and costing our proposals during a brief scheduled pause in negotiations. We will resume non-monetary talks later this month and then shift our focus to monetary negotiations.
In total, 12 more bargaining days are scheduled through the end of November.
Community Bargaining Association (CBA) different from CSSBA
Finally, we wish to clarify that recent news about Community Bargaining Association (CBA) negotiations reaching an impasse and a strike vote being planned does not involve members in the social services sector. Instead, the CBA represents workers in the community health sector. You will be notified directly if CSSBA negotiations reach an impasse and informed of any subsequent steps.
In solidarity,
Your CSSBA Bargaining Committee