CEO Update - September 2024

Local Issues Negotiations

Members have been busy over summer pulling together proposals for amending their local issues memoranda. Our HRLR staff have seen a sharp increase in this activity with the deadline for tabling proposals having just past on September 15. Local issues negotiations is one of the hallmarks of the beginning of the collective agreements renewal process and our staff will be available to you to assist in renegotiating them. The deadline for completing local issues negotiations is December 15 in accordance with MOA#1. Please schedule any negotiations assistance you need with your Advocate/Consultant as soon as you can, as they will each be assisting a number of employers in this process over the next few months.

Complimentary Leadership Training

With September traditionally being the ‘back to school’ month, we invite members to encourage their new hires and managers to sign up for complimentary leadership training on My Leadership Hub. With the generous support of the Federation of Community Social Services of BC, we are able to offer free access to seven labour relations modules, including those that address performance management, progressive discipline and attendance management, until June 2025. The Leadership Hub will generate certificates of completion following an individual’s successful completion of each module.

In order to start taking advantage of this valuable resource, simply go to this membership page, select “Join Now” under basic membership and fill in your details. If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2024 AGM and Conference

With CSSEA’s 2024 AGM and Conference, Fresh Perspectives, now just three weeks away, we encourage all those who have not yet registered to do so as soon as possible. CSSEA will be accepting conference registrations until 5pm on October 4. Several sessions are now sold out and most others are nearing sell-out status so we look forward to a robust turnout for our 30th anniversary celebration. We are also excited to celebrate this year’s Awards of Excellence recipients: Rising Star – Darshan Nickolchuk from Nelson Community Services; Hero – Aaron Rivard from Westcoast Family Centres Society; Leader – Maureen Hunter from Rivercity Inclusion Society; and Legend – Vicki Kipps from Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services. See you in Vancouver from October 9-11 at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel!

Staffing Announcement

CSSEA is pleased to announce two new staff members who will be joining the HRLR team. Gurkiran (Kiran) Gill, Advocate, started at CSSEA this week after working the past three years at a leading law firm in Surrey, McQuarrie Hunter, in its commercial litigation department. She also articled and worked as a summer student there. Kiran received her law degree at the University of Victoria and her undergraduate degree in Business Administration (Human Resource Management) at the Beedie School of Business at SFU. Kiran has a passion for human resources and contributing to her community.

Advocate Jessica Gill will be starting on October 1. She articled at a leading law firm in Vancouver, Fasken, and concentrated her development in the Labour, Employment, and Human Rights group. She is being called to the BC Bar this month. Jessica received her law degree at the University of Alberta and also holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She also held various positions in the private sector and worked in the Research and Communications department of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Jessica is a long-time avid soccer player and coach.

Members that Kiran have been assigned to have been notified already, and members that Jessica will be assigned to will be notified shortly.

Pay Transparency Reporting

Members who have over 1,000 employees are reminded that they are required to file their Pay Transparency Report with BC’s Pay Transparency Office by November 1, 2024. If this applies to your agency, we ask that you contact Doris Sun, Director of Communications, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we may compile that information and share those details with PSEC. For more information on this new requirement, please consult this government webpage.

2024 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report

We continue to accept submissions for the 2024 Compensation and Employee Turnover Report to ensure we have a robust, accurate capture of the sector’s funding needs as we prepare for bargaining. Data compiled by Turnover Reports directly informs government’s development of the next bargaining mandate and the funding needed to support changes to the collective agreements; every submission is vitally important. I thank all of you who have already taken the time to complete your submissions. If you have any questions or require assistance on report completion, please e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

INCLUSION Art Show and Sale

On behalf of CSSEA member, posAbilities Association of BC, we invite all members to attend its 20th Annual INCLUSION Art Show & Sale – BC’s largest diverse abilities art show. Attendees can expect to see the work of over 200 talented artists, including painting, photography, pottery and jewelry. Each piece is a unique expression of the artist’s story and talent. The show will be taking place October 23 from 10:30am to 7:30pm at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, in downtown Vancouver. Admission to the show is free and we hope you reserve time to attend this community and capacity-building event.