Government to Transfer Supportive Housing Agencies to Community Health

Government has informed select CSSEA members where supportive housing is the dominant service that they will be transferred to the health sector and become members of the Health Employers’ Association (HEABC). While it is expected that most unionized workers will be placed in the Community (Health) Bargaining Association (CBA), specialized employees may become part of a different bargaining association, such as the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) or the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA).

The list of agencies that will be subject to the health sector transfer is provided at the end of this page.

At this time the following can be confirmed:

1. Affected agencies are to continue to apply the current Collective Agreement and pay the TMAs as set out in the 2024 MOAs until directed otherwise by HEABC.
2. The transfer of CSSEA members to the health sector will be achieved by Order In Council by Provincial Cabinet early this summer.
3. Upon transfer to the health sector, the CSSEA collective agreements will be phased out and the appropriate health sector collective agreement(s) will apply. More than one health sector collective agreement may apply to affected agencies under legislation that applies to health sector employers. The transition to the appropriate Collective Agreement will be led, on behalf of employers, by HEABC through discussion with the appropriate bargaining association.
4. The Ministry of Finance, BC Housing, and other funding ministries have been notified and are expected to support the increases in cost to transferring agencies. Transferring agencies are encouraged to reach out to their funders to discuss their specific contract adjustments.
5. Government has advised the unions impacted of the initiative.
6. Government will be hosting a meeting with affected CSSEA members to discuss the transfer and address questions.
7. As the application of the health sector collective agreements are a matter between HEABC and the Unions, the status of the local issues MOAs and NPF MOAs will be determined by those parties.
8. Health and welfare benefits in the health sector are provided through the Healthcare Benefit Trust (HBT). Additionally, for the CBA, the HSPBA and the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) these benefits are the responsibility of a Joint Benefit Trust (JBT). Transferring agencies will need to participate in the appropriate JBT and apply the health sector benefit plans found in the applicable collective agreement(s). For the tables with JBT agreements, no other providers are permitted to administer the plans so transition will be required. Given this requirement, employers are not to extend existing contracts with other health and welfare benefit providers.  If you have questions about this direction, or need advice about a specific situation, please contact Paul Todd at HEABC at paul.todd@heabc.bc.ca.
9. Transferring agencies are to complete their essential services negotiations currently underway.
10. To the extent that job evaluations are needed for bargaining unit employees, they will be conducted by HEABC staff in accordance with the health sector plans once the employer is covered by the health sector agreement. Non-contract and management/excluded wages will be subject to the excluded job evaluation plan in the health sector. 
11. Transferring agencies are to complete their CSSEA 2025 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report by June 30, 2025.

CSSEA will share aggregate data with HEABC to support the transfer. CSSEA will continue to preserve the confidentiality of employer-specific data.

There is more information to come. We appreciate that you will have many questions about the future labour relations processes and terms that will apply to your agencies.  CSSEA will issue follow-up bulletins as we secure additional answers.

Agencies Subject to Health Sector Transfer