Leading in Complexity: Last Chance to Register

CSSEA’s 2018 AGM and Conference, Leading in Complexity, is set to take place in under three weeks, from October 9-11, at the Vancouver Marriott Downtown Hotel. Several sessions have already reached capacity and most are poised to sell out. If you have not yet registered and plan to attend, please do so as soon as possible through our conference website.

CSSEA’s preferential hotel group rate has now expired. While the current rate is substantially higher, the hotel has indicated it will make every effort to accommodate last-minute reservations at (or close to) the negotiated rate of $229 for a standard room; requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you require accommodations, please contact Annette Lee, Event Manager, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver for what will be three inspirational days of learning and growth!…

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Notification of Special Resolutions to be Debated at October 9 AGM

Members are advised that CSSEA’s 2018 AGM will be taking place in Vancouver at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel on October 9 from 1:00-4:00pm. Please note that this year, in addition to regular business, the CSSEA Board will be introducing four Special Resolutions to the general membership for debate.

The resolutions stem from a December, 18, 2017 letter addressed to CSSEA’s Board Chair from BC’s Minister of Finance Carole James, where Minister James recommended a number of changes to CSSEA’s governance. Early this year, the Board struck a special committee, chaired by Deborah Joyce and including Janice Barr, David Young and Bernadette Spence, to look into government’s recommendations. The special committee issued a response letter to Minister James and is bringing forward four (4) Special Resolutions amending the current bylaws.

The Board encourages all members to attend this important AGM (or to send a designate) and review the changes carefully in order to fully participate in discussions and cast their votes. Votes will be weighted and each resolution will be introduced and debated individually. As Special Resolutions, each will require 75 per cent (per Article 13.02 of CSSEA’s Constitution and Bylaws) of attending members to vote in favour in order to pass.…

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Collective Agreement Implementation and Local Issues Negotiations

Now that our three collective agreements have been ratified, employers are reminded that all newly negotiated provisions that do not have a specific effective date are to be implemented immediately, as they became effective on the date of ratification, August 27, 2018. Provisions to be immediately implemented include the new articles on the supervisory selection process and the elimination of payment for Class 5 Drivers Licenses.

Other Key Implementation Dates

Monetary provisions relating to wage rates, mileage allowances and improvements to the Extended Health Care Plan all have effective dates of April 1, 2019 or later. As we near those dates, CSSEA will provide more detailed implementation instructions. Please note that under the current 2014-2019 Collective Agreements, a general wage increase and possible Economic Stability Dividend are scheduled for February 1, 2019; further details will be provided as they become available.

Below is a list of the changes contained in the 2019-2022 Collective Agreements, which will assist employers with implementation. The changes apply to Indigenous Services, Community Living Service and General Services unless otherwise indicated. (For example, employees covered by the Indigenous Services Collective Agreement who are paid at Public Service Agreement wage rates would receive the yearly 2% general wage increase only and not the Low Wage Redress.)…

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Who Qualifies for Government's Early Childhood Educator Funding

The BC government recently announced a welcome new investment into early childhood education that could impact a number of non-provincially funded CSSEA employers.

This funding aims to improve recruitment and retention for front-line Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and includes a $1-per-hour wage increase in early 2019, retroactive to September 1, 2018, for those who work at eligible licensed facilities and have applied and been approved for the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. An additional $1-per-hour wage increase will be implemented in April 2020.

Employees may qualify to access ECE wage increases if their wages are set through local agreements negotiations. Programs where unionized ECE wages are set through the JJEP classification and wage grids currently do not qualify.…

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Congratulations to 2018 Awards of Excellence Recipients

CSSEA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Community Social Services Awards of Excellence. Now in their fourth year, the awards continue to recognize individuals of varying seniority who have made outstanding contributions to the sector. Presented in collaboration with TELUS and with input from both a member Shortlisting Committee and external Judging Panel, we congratulate the following recipients:

Rising Star: Vanessa Burnett
Vocational Support Worker, Vernon and District Association for Community Living – Venture Training, Community Living Services

In her relatively short time in the sector, Vanessa has taken on a variety of roles, from residential support to therapeutic work, leading individuals in varied activities such as art, sports, theatre production and music. Her most well-known success was creating a bike program, which encouraged participants to learn about the importance of safety, proper technique and exercise. Vanessa is known for her willingness to take on new responsibilities, often volunteering for community events like the annual Vernon Winter Carnival Parade and Special Olympics. She has a passion for empowering individuals to pursue their interests and supporting them to achieve their personal goals.…

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Three Year Collective Agreements Ratified

CSSEA is pleased that employers have followed the recommendation of the Bargaining Committee and voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying new three-year collective agreements in the Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services divisions. The unions that comprise the Community Social Services Bargaining Association have also voted in favour of ratification. The term of the agreements will be from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022, but the parties have agreed that all language provisions will take effect immediately, as of August 27, 2018.

Highlights of the new agreements include a general wage increase of 2% on April 1 of each of the three years and an additional $60 million over three years as part of the continuation of the 2014 low wage redress strategy that addresses wage comparability with the health sector.

These historic agreements show that when employers and unions collaborate to create a level playing field in public sector compensation, improved service delivery to some of the most vulnerable British Columbians can be achieved. These agreements also represent an unprecedented success in supporting members with their recruitment and retention challenges.…

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Upcoming Ratification Vote - Important Information

CSSEA thanks all members who attended last week’s Ratification Information Meeting on the 2019-2022 tentative collective agreements, both in person and via live webinar. A copy of the meeting presentation is now available on our website (login required).

The ratification vote is scheduled to take place from 8:00 am on Monday, August 20 to 5:00 pm on Friday, August 24, 2018.

Prior to August 20, the primary contact of each agency will receive an email containing voting instructions, as well as a unique link that will enable primary contacts to cast their votes. Votes can only be cast once and your agency’s allotment of votes will automatically be recorded and tallied.…

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Ratification Information Meeting and Voting Procedure

In preparation for this week’s Ratification Information Meeting, members are asked to review the Government Funding Letter and Summary of Changes to the 2014-2019 Collective Agreements, which outlines proposed amendments, as well as CSSEA’s comments and interpretation. Those participating in the meeting are encouraged to bring a copy of the package, as it will be referenced throughout.

The Ratification Information Meeting will be taking place in Vancouver on Wednesday, July 18 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, at 1133 W Hastings Street in Vancouver. It will also be available as a conference call/webinar. If you have not yet registered for the meeting, please do so online.

Ratification Voting Procedure

Ratification voting will be conducted online for all three tentative agreements from 8:00 am Monday, August 20 to 5:00 pm Friday, August 24, 2018. The ratification votes will be conducted in accordance with Article 13.05 of CSSEA’s Constitution and Bylaws, which stipulates that each agency’s vote is weighted based on its total number of bargaining FTEs.…

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Ratification Information Meeting to Take Place July 18

With CSSEA’s Bargaining Committee having recently reached three-year tentative agreements with the Community Social Services Bargaining Association, a ratification information meeting will be held to provide details on key changes and additions.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Harbourfront Ballroom at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, 1133 West Hastings Street in Vancouver. It will also be broadcast as a live conference call/webinar for those who are unable to attend in person.

Decision makers from your organization, including executive directors, chief executive officers, board members and senior management, are encouraged to attend. At the meeting, we will provide an in-depth explanation of the tentative agreements and reasons for recommending ratification. Representatives from the funding ministries and authority will also be invited to attend.…

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Observance of Canada Day 2018

Given that July 1 falls on a Sunday this year, employers are reminded that Canada Day will be legally observed on Monday, July 2. This is in accordance with the federal Holidays Act, which states that July 2 is a legal holiday in cases where July 1 lands on a Sunday. As such, employers should ensure that employees working on Monday, July 2 receive one point five times their regular hourly rate of pay. Regular employees are also entitled to receive one day off in lieu. Sunday, July 1 is considered a regular workday and employees who are scheduled to work that day are not entitled to statutory holiday pay.

 If you have any questions, please contact your HRLR Consultant.

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