A Message from HSA President Sarah Kooner on the CSS Tentative Agreement

Prior to the onset of bargaining, your union heard directly from CSS members on their priorities for the next contract. At the bargaining proposals conference, members like you took the more than 80 bargaining proposals from chapters around the province and provided clear direction on your priorities that needed to be addressed with the employer.

Your bargaining committee made significant progress on a number of non-monetary and administrative proposals throughout the summer and fall of 2025, however, difficulties arose when the employer tabled their monetary package. Specifically, while the expanded mandate was made available to the CSS sector from the beginning and your bargaining committee didn’t have to ask you for a strike mandate, there was significant disagreement as to how the available money should be allocated. Your bargaining committee pushed back and was able to achieve the tentative agreement in front of you today.

I want to thank our representatives at the table, Colin Brehaut and Dawn-Marie Goodmurphy, who worked tirelessly to represent your interests at the bargaining table.

This agreement represents the overwhelming solidarity between workers across nine unions and your Board of Directors recommends that you vote YES in favour of the tentative agreement.

Comprehensive Report

Visit the CSS ratification hub for complete information about the tentative agreement, including the comprehensive report. This report outlines in detail the features of the collective agreement achieved by your negotiating team, and includes the specific contract language signed off by the union and employer.

After you’ve reviewed the information on the website, you can join a telephone town hall to ask any questions you may have. 

Telephone Town Halls

You’re invited to a series of live and interactive telephone town halls to learn more about the tentative agreement and ask your questions. To participate, all you have to do is answer the phone when we call. 

• Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 pm (Pacific time)
• Wednesday, May 13 at 12:00 pm (Pacific time)

If you miss the call or don’t receive the call let us know by emailing @email to be added to the list.

Ratification Vote

Voting on the tentative agreement is open to all members covered by the Community  Social Services Bargaining Association, and will be held online. Voting will open at 12 PM Pacific on Thursday, May 14 and close Thursday, May 21 at 12 PM Pacific.

Members currently covered by the CSSBA whose employer transitioned into the health sector are not eligible to vote in this election. 
 
You will need a voting credential to cast your vote; these will be sent to your personal email on file with HSA. Voting credentials will be sent when voting opens on May 14. If you do not receive your voting credential at that time, contact us for assistance.

You will not be able to vote if you have not provided the union with your personal email address. Take a second now to confirm that the union has your current personal email by using the member contact update form or by reaching out by email to info@hsabc.org.