CEO Update - June 2023

Bargaining Update

With the collective agreements now ratified, CSSEA’s attention has turned to implementation and delivering on the commitments the parties made at the bargaining table. To that end, we have been working with the CSSBA on the time-consuming process of producing the new collective agreement text (and eventually booklets), as well as a number of other items that still require agreement between the parties.

Implementation of new agreements is often challenging as the process is complex, perhaps no more so than in the social services sector, which has a multitude of funders and different funding models. On May 3, the CSSBA filed a policy grievance with CSSEA claiming many of their members had not yet received the April 1, 2023 wage increases and/or the retroactive pay that was negotiated. Unions, funders and PSEC are aware that in spite of everyone’s best efforts, the complexity of flowing the new monies to employers in a timely manner is presenting a challenge. CSSEA will continue to provide updates on the status of the policy grievance as the parties will be discussing the matter later in June.

Awards of Excellence

Thank you to all who took the time to submit a nomination for this year’s Community Social Services Awards of Excellence, sponsored by TELUS. Nominations are now closed and a member panel recently met to review submissions and select a shortlist of candidates that will move forward to the judging phase. A final judging session is set to take place at the end of June, during which time winners will be selected. We look forward to celebrating this year’s recipients with you at the Awards of Excellence Luncheon, taking place on October 26, 2023 during our AGM and Conference in Kelowna.

2023 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report

The 2023 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report is now available for members to complete. Details gleaned from previous Turnover Reports were not only critical in making the monetary case to government in the most recent round of bargaining, they also inform PSEC of the total compensation base and contribute to the numerous reports and publications that CSSEA is able to produce for the membership. CSSEA has and will continue to share only aggregate-level data with government and funders, unless your agency has provided written authorization to share agency-level data, such is the case with HSCIS and health funding. The deadline for completion of the 2023 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report is June 30, 2023. Members with questions and/or who need assistance in the completing the report can contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Upcoming HRLR Practitioners Meeting

Members are invited to register for an upcoming HR Practitioners Meeting, taking place both in-person and virtually, on June 15 from 10:00am to noon. The meeting will be presented by CSSEA Consultants Vanessa Wong, Joanna May and Mike Jackson, and will cover topics ranging from “dot-mocracy,” the probation period and online training opportunities. Those attending in person will also have the chance to meet and mingle with their Consultants/Advocates over lunch. Register by June 13 for one of the remaining spots and please note that those who register for the virtual option will receive their participation links on June 14.

Community Social Services Health and Safety Association Updates

The Community Social Services Health & Safety Association of BC recently announced the appointment of Rick FitzZaland as its new Independent Board Chair. He comes to the Association with impressive credentials, having been a founding member of the BC Social Services Sector Roundtable and representing the community social services sector on the BC Economic Recovery Task Force during the pandemic.

The Association will be holding its second AGM virtually on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 from 1 pm to 3 pm, and registration can be completed here. As well, the Association is working on a number of webinars this year on topics ranging from Disability Management and Return to Work, Violence Prevention in the Workplace, Anti-Racism and Road Safety. These webinars will be made available at no cost to members and participation details will be shared as soon as they are available. Anyone with questions about the Association are asked to e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Get Featured in CSSEA’s 2023 Annual Report

As CSSEA prepares to produce its 2023 Annual Report, we invite all members to once again submit photos from their agencies to be considered for inclusion. We welcome member photos of staff events, community events in which your agency had a presence, individuals served, or any other image that highlights the work your organization is doing in your community. We ask that anyone featured in your submitted photos consent to their image being published in print and on our website prior to your submission. The deadline for submission is July 21, 2023 and photos can be e-mailed to Doris Sun, Director of Communications, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CSSEA Online Learning Hub

Two new courses have been added to CSSEA’s Online Learning Hub - Fundamentals of Cultivating Adaptability and Fundamentals of Building Healthy Workplaces; in addition, the platform will be hosting a number of webinars in the next few months. For those not yet acquainted with the Learning Hub, it was launched in December 2021 as a way to provide relevant, cost-effective and flexible e-training to the membership. Those who purchase memberships have full access to webinars and courses, either as cohort-based or independent learning. For more information on courses and fees, visit the Learning Hub website here. If you have any questions, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .