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History


Our history

In 1992, the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service and the Public Sector embarked on an extensive review of human resource practices in British Columbia. Spearheaded by Commissioner Judi Korbin, the inquiry examined practices in the health, education, public service, colleges and universities, crown corporations and community social services sectors.

One of Korbin's key recommendations was the establishment of the Public Sector Employers' Council (PSEC), a provincial body that would bring together representatives from the government and employers from the public service. PSEC's role would be to streamline human resource services with a focus on accountability, coordination, effective management and the balancing of union/management and employer/employee relations.

Government approved Korbin's recommendations and adopted the Public Sector Employers Act (Bill 78), which legislated the formation of the Public Sector Employers' Council and a number of employers' associations in the public sector, including the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA).

The creation of CSSEA

CSSEA was legally established on January 13, 1994, as a non-profit society under the Society of Registrars. An interim board of directors governed until September 1994, when the association held its first annual general meeting (AGM) and the membership held its first election of a board. CSSEA was created to fulfill the following four key functions:
  • Act as a bargaining agent for members designated under the Labour Relations Code or Section 11 of the Public Sector Employers Act
  • Coordinate compensation services for employees not subject to collective agreements, benefits administration and human resource practices
  • Foster consultation between CSSEA and employers in the community social services sector
  • Assist the Public Sector Employers' Council to meet the objectives and strategic directions established by the Council

The restructuring of CSSEA

In October 2002, CSSEA was placed under the guidance of a public administrator who was responsible for reviewing the association’s membership and governance, collective bargaining and operational structures.

In February 2003, government approved the recommendations of the public administrator, resulting in a decrease in the number of members; a new governance model; an alignment of CSSEA’s operations to reflect the major changes occurring within the social services sector; and an increase in CSSEA’s commonality with other employers’ associations in the public sector.

Members of CSSEA were now defined as agencies and authorities that met the following criteria:
  • They are unionized.
  • They receive at least $250,000 in annual funding from the provincial government, either directly or from regional and provincial authorities.
  • They receive at least 50 percent of their total annual revenue from these provincial sources.
Members were assigned to one of three membership divisions:
  • Aboriginal Services (AS)
  • Community Living Services (CLS)
  • General Services. (GS)
Each membership division was to be represented by an elected body known as a panel, which serves as a fixed point of reference between its division and the board of directors. Each panel elects representatives to the board from within its panel membership. The board is comprised of ten members from the three divisional panels, representatives of government authorities, and three government appointees.

As a result of the recommendations on the structure of collective bargaining, three bargaining units were created to represent all of CSSEA's members, with a bargaining unit for each of the three membership divisions. Also, the new Community Services Labour Relations Act confirmed CSSEA as the accredited bargaining agent for its members and established processes for the creation of an association of unions for the purpose of collective bargaining in the community social services sector.

Under this new structure, CSSEA and the Union Bargaining Association (UBA) negotiated three collective agreements for the period 2003-2006 for Aboriginal Services, Community Living Services and General Services, and again for the period 2006-2010.

Following the recommendations for CSSEA's operational structure, the organization has since achieved fiscal efficiencies through its operations, streamlined its labour relations services and established a research group for sectoral compensation and bargaining analysis. It has also implemented a service tracking system and developed a cyclical internal compensation plan for CSSEA staff.

Today

CSSEA is now charged with coordinating human resources and labour relations for more than 200 member social service organizations, ranging in size from under 10 to more than 600 employees and collectively employing more than 15,000 people. In addition, CSSEA provides services to more than 100 associate organizations that do not meet CSSEA criteria for membership but wish to access its human resources and labour relations services on a fee-for-service basis.

Our mission

CSSEA, in collaboration with member agencies and government, promotes sustainability of services by providing quality human resources and labour relations services.

Our vision

CSSEA’s vision is to promote excellence and innovation in human resources and labour relations.

Our members

CSSEA currently serves 202 members throughout the province.
CSSEA - Excellence and Innovation in Human Resources and Labour Relations
Email: cssea@cssea.bc.ca | Phone: 604.687.7220 | Fax: 604.687.7266 | Toll Free: 1.800.377.3340