Collective Bargaining Update
CSSEA’s Bargaining Team and the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) resumed talks on January 12 and have dates scheduled into the end of March. CSSEA tabled monetary proposals and discussions are continuing on non-monetary topics, including union leaves and meetings, and processes for more effectively covering for employees on other types of leaves. Separate discussions have also continued on the unique issues associated with the Indigenous Services Collective Agreement. Members are reminded that there is currently no impasse in bargaining, nor have strike votes been taken, so job action is not currently anticipated.
2026 Awards of Excellence
CSSEA will be opening nominations for this year’s Community Social Services Awards of Excellence in early March and we invite all members to start thinking about submitting a nomination for an outstanding individual working at your agencies. We look forward to hearing and sharing your stories of inspiration, passion and resilience at this year’s awards ceremony, taking place in Vancouver on October 15. We also extend our gratitude to Telus for supporting this important recognition program since its inception.
2026 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report – Upcoming Orientation Sessions
CSSEA’s Research and Knowledge Management team will once again be conducting orientation sessions to support members completing this year’s Compensation and Employee Turnover Report. We are currently finalizing the schedule for this spring’s sessions, and members will receive further communication next month with dates, times and locations.
Professional Development Opportunities
As the coming of spring welcomes fresh beginnings, we remind employers to encourage staff to prioritise their professional growth by taking advantage of several complimentary educational opportunities. An online learning module, Building Respectful Relationships, was developed in collaboration with the CSSBA and covers topics such as power relationships, emotions and their functions, recognizing conflict and visualizing a respectful workplace. The entire course takes approximately 80 minutes to complete and can be finished over multiple sessions, with a certificate issued upon completion. To access the module, visit CSSBA’s website and register for an account. Under access code, please use: CSSE-AR92-WXDY-XDE1-7FQ7-WVN5F. If you have any access or technical questions, please contact the CSSBA directly by filling out this online form.
CSSEA will continue to offer complimentary access to labour relations courses on the MyLeadershipHub online platform until this summer, thanks to generous funding from the BC Social Care Leadership Training Grant, managed by the Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT BC). These self-paced courses, developed in partnership with the EQ Development Group, cover key topics including performance management, conducting investigations, understanding the disciplinary process, and more. The LR and online leadership courses are free, while the Leadership Essentials of Accelerated Development (LEAD) program will be offered at a reduced rate. Employers are encouraged to require staff in leadership roles to complete these courses, particularly as part of the onboarding process for new hires. To register, go to https://cssea.myleadershiphub.com/ and click “Register Now” from the homepage to create a free account. Existing Learning Hub members can continue accessing courses using their existing login credentials. If you have any questions, e-mail: cssea@myleadershiphub.com
Staffing Announcements
CSSEA will be welcoming Anne Campbell back on March 2 as a part-time HR/LR contractor to help backfill Alex Inzunza’s upcoming parental leave, also set to start on March 2.
CSSEA’s Junior Research Analyst Natalie Hoi will expand her duties with the Research and Knowledge Management team, particularly taking a lead role in non-union Compensation and Employee Turnover Report collection, in addition to her existing responsibilities supporting CSSEA’s unionized data collection efforts.
We also recently welcomed Sellina Chandra as a part-time, contract Accounting Clerk, who will focus on supporting CSSEA’s Senior Accountant, Roy Sun, as well as the Community Social Services Health and Safety Association.