Last week, contract talks between the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) and the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) kicked off.
This round of negotiations is aimed at reaching a new collective agreement for more than 23,000 community social services workers, including 1,500 HEU members, working in every region of the province.
The current collective agreement expired March 31, 2025. The terms of the agreement stay in effect until a new one is negotiated and ratified by members.
During talks, both parties presented non-monetary proposals. All monetary proposals, including a general wage increase, will be exchanged later in the bargaining process.
The eight-union bargaining association represents community social services workers who negotiate collaboratively for a collective agreement that covers wages, working conditions, and health and safety for all unionized workers in the sector.
The CSSBA includes the BC General Employees’ Union, which leads negotiations, as well as the Canadian Union of Public Employees, HEU, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Health Sciences Association, Christian Labour Association of Canada, United Steel Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers, and BC Nurses’ Union.
Leading up to last week’s session with the employer’s representatives, the bargaining association was working diligently to review proposals from members and finalize priorities for the CSSBA negotiating package.
HEU’s community social services members are encouraged to keep their contact information updated to stay informed on the bargaining process. Update contact information at www.heu.org/change-contact-information.