2025 Bargaining
CSSEA issued its first Bargaining Update for this round of negotiations and announced that bargaining is set to commence on May 13. Given the sensitive and confidential nature of discussions, updates will be periodic and e-mailed to primary CSSEA contacts (Executive Directors and CEOs) only.
Essential Service Planning
As the sector is now well into its essential service planning for this round of bargaining, employers should have already submitted their essential services proposals to their union(s), and negotiations will either have started or been scheduled. CSSEA advises employers to complete their negotiations by May 23rd, as any agency with outstanding essential services levels on May 26th will be rostered for mediation at the Labour Relations Board; mediation sessions are set to take place from June 2 to 27 inclusive.
Even if your agency has been rostered for mediation, you are encouraged to continue negotiations, with the goal of obtaining an agreement before mediation.
Employers are asked to provide a status update on May 16 to their Advocate/Consultant on their negotiations; this will enable CSSEA to estimate the number of agencies that need to be rostered and the complexity of the outstanding issues. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Advocate/Consultant.
2023-2028 Strategic Plan
Following the unanimous endorsement of CSSEA’s Strategic Plan at a special Board meeting on January 20, CSSEA is pleased to share a high-resolution version of the 2023-2028 CSSEA Strategic Plan here. The plan outlines CSSEA’s four strategic priority goals over the next three years:
- Broaden CSSEA’s impact in the sector
- Adopt and embed Reconciliatory actions into CSSEA activities
- Leverage available technology to better collect data and support the strategic HR delivery of CSSEA member services
- Build HR capacity and knowledge in CSSEA’s members by leveraging both technology and effective member relations
As we work to operationalize these goals, we will provide updates at future Board and Panel meetings, through CEO Updates and in our Annual Report.
WorkSafeBC Bill 41 and NIDMAR Webinar
CSSEA will be hosting a virtual webinar on May 29 from 10-11:30am on WorkSafeBC’s Bill 41 resources, and will feature a National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) funding opportunity. WorkSafeBC’s presentations will focus on Bill 41, new return to work (RTW) resources and vital employer web resources. This session will also be an opportunity for members to directly engage with WorkSafeBC staff on mental health claims and other important topics. (Please note that benefit providers will also be invited to participate in this session.)
This webinar will also provide details on the joint pilot project between NIDMAR and CSSEA where members participating in the initial phase will be provided valuable disability management insights, be eligible for a program assessment and then potentially receive up to a $7,500 subsidy for RTW/disability management program improvements supported by a BC government grant. Registration for the complimentary webinar is available here.
2025 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report
We remind members that the latest Compensation and Employee Turnover Report is now available for completion and ask all those who have not completed it yet to do so by June 30, 2025.
Orientation sessions designed to assist staff members in completing this report are still ongoing. We encourage all agencies to send team members who fill out this report to one of the final remaining orientation sessions. Registration is required and can be completed here.
Awards of Excellence
The nomination period for this year’s 10th anniversary Community Social Services Awards of Excellence, sponsored by Telus, is now closed. We thank everyone for the taking the time to recognize outstanding individuals working in the social services sector. Nominations are now being redacted for identifying information prior to being sent to a member committee who will shortlist candidates in June. We look forward to honouring this year’s recipients and sharing their stories with the sector at a luncheon in Kelowna on October 9.