More than 19,000 health care workers in the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) – including 1,500 HEU members – will get a three per cent wage increase on April 1.
This includes both the two per cent general wage increase (GWI) and an additional one per cent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
During the 2022-2025 round of contract talks, the CSSBA negotiated a general wage increase for the third year of the collective agreement (2024-2025) that was linked to the annual inflation rate.
Based on B.C.’s cost-of-living calculations between March 2023 and February 2024, the full inflationary adjustment was triggered, leading to the maximum three per cent pay boost.
The new wage grids are posted on HEU’s website, and they also reflect the application of health sector comparability adjustments, retroactive to the first pay period after April 1, 2023.
The wage boosts include the following three bargained increases:
1. GWI of two per cent plus full additional one per cent COLA
The 2024 GWI provided a guaranteed two per cent plus up to an additional one per cent COLA, which was determined by the 12-month average B.C. consumer price index (CPI). The B.C. CPI annualized average per cent change from March 2023 through February 2024 was 3.4 per cen. As this exceeded the guaranteed two per cent GWI, the full additional one per cent COLA has been applied to the grids, for a total increase of three per cent.
2. Facilities Bargaining Association comparability
In the 2022-2025 round of bargaining, the CSSBA and the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) negotiated a $4.1 million ongoing fund to maintain wage comparability with the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA). As part of their wage comparability process, the FBA and health employers agreed to a 25 cent per hour wage increase for the lowest wage-rated jobs retroactive to April 1, 2023, and a 22 cent per hour increase for the next lowest wage-rated jobs effective April 1, 2024.
With the available $4.1 million, CSSBA and CSSEA can match the additional 25 cent per hour wage increase, retroactive to April 1, 2023, for CSS employees in Grid 9 and below.
The available funding means CSSBA and CSSEA can also match 63.6 per cent of the 22 cent per hour additional increase. Therefore, CSS employees in Grid 10 will see an additional 14 cent per hour wage increase.
Unlike the non-retroactive FBA increase for this group of workers, CSS members will get this pay bump retroactively to April 1, 2023. These increases are reflected on the wage grids.
The CSSBA recognizes that an eight cent per hour gap remains between CSS Grid 10 jobs and comparable FBA jobs. This must be addressed in the next round of bargaining as we continue to fight for equal pay for work of equal value compared with other health sectors.
3. Nurses’ Bargaining Association comparability
The CSSBA and CSSEA also agreed to maintain CSS wage comparability with the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA). Effective retroactively to April 1, 2023, CSS LPNs and RNs will see positive adjustments to any wage step that was behind its NBA comparator.
These increases are reflected on the wage grids. The CSSBA notes that CSS RN Step 1 rates were not adjusted as they were not behind the equivalent NBA rates.
The following matters remain in discussion with CSSEA:
1. Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association comparability
The CSSBA and CSSEA had also agreed on wage adjustments to achieve parity for CSS paraprofessionals in the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA).
Unfortunately, the parties have been unable to reach agreement, but discussions continue. The CSSBA is prepared to refer the matter to arbitration if required. In the meantime, the 2024 GWI applies to the paraprofessional grid.
2. Community Bargaining Association comparability for supervisory jobs
Impacting a very small number of CSS employees in supervisory roles, there are some supervisory rates that remain below those found in the Community Bargaining Association (CBA). This only affects supervisory positions in Grids 1, 2, 7 and 8. Other CSS layered-over rates are not impacted as they are not behind the equivalent CBA wages.
Overall, the CSSBA is proud of the general wage increases and comparability adjustments achieved in the last round of bargaining, as we continue working to close the pay gaps within the health sector.