CEO Update - October 2014

With our Annual General Meeting and Fall Conference fast approaching, it signals the inevitable end of summer and the beginning of fall.  

Over the summer and during September, CSSEA has been preparing for the AGM and Fall Conference, while also launching new initiatives to add value to members.

The recently announced Executive Coaching Program, a partnership with the International Coaching Federation – Vancouver Charter Chapter, is a wonderful opportunity to provide quality and affordable executive coaching to excluded staff working for not-for-profit agencies in the social services sector.…

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CEO Update - September 2014

WorkSafeBC Rates & Meetings

Members and associates are invited to attend meetings being held by WorkSafeBC across the province in September regarding their 2015 insurance rates.

The sessions will include an overview of 2015 rates and highlight some cost mitigation strategies, such as general prevention techniques and return to work programs. WorkSafeBC representatives will also be available to address industry specific questions.

For a list of locations, dates and times, please see below:…

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CEO Update - August 2014

This month’s update is shorter than usual, as we are in the middle of summer, however  I want to highlight three important items for members to be aware of: the 2014 AGM and Fall Conference, the Online Orientation Sessions for the 2014 Compensation and Employee Turnover Survey and an update regarding the joint committees flowing out of collective bargaining.

AGM and Fall Conference – Registration Open

Registration is open for CSSEA’s 2014 AGM and Fall Conference October 21 – 23 at the Vancouver Four Seasons Hotel.…

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CEO Update - July 2014

2014 Compensation and Employee Turnover Survey

The 2014 Compensation and Employee Turnover Survey was distributed to members in early June. The data collected will support the implementation of the 2014-2019 Collective Agreements; serve as the basis for the work of the Benefits Working Group; as well as a guide the work of the committees responsible for the job classification review and the allocation of comparability/anomaly funds.  

To assist members to complete the survey CSSEA has scheduled a series of regional orientation sessions, which will familiarize staff with the survey and answer any questions.

As with last year’s survey, we have combined the Wage and Benefits, ED/CEO Compensation, Management and Excluded Compensation and Employee Turnover Compensation surveys into a single survey.  Data collection has been further refined, as a result of valuable input from the Sector Data Advisory Committee and panel members.…

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CEO Update - May 2014

Joint Sector Committee Meeting

At the end of April, the Joint Sector Committee comprised of representatives from CSSEA and the CSSBA met for the first time since the ratification of the new collective agreements, to discuss implementation and issues of concern to both parties.

At the meeting we discussed the implementation of the mandatory Early Intervention Program, benefit issues and the composition of the committees outlined in the collective agreements.

The meetings are an opportunity for CSSEA and the CSSBA to have open and frank discussions in order to solve issues and explore possible solutions in a non-adversarial setting. We look forward to continuing to foster a positive relationship with the CSSBA to achieve employers goals for the sector.…

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CEO Update - March 2014

$400,000 Labour Market Adjustment Distribution

CSSEA has begun distributing to members their share of the one-time $400,000 Labour Market Adjustment (LMA) funds negotiated in the 2012-2014 round of bargaining to address retention issues for specific classifications in the sector.

The classifications listed below were agreed by a joint committee of CSSEA and the CSSBA in the Agreement Re: Allocation of LMA between CSSEA and the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA).

 Eligible LMA Classifications

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CEO Update - February 2014

Ratified Collective Agreement

 I’m very pleased the sector successfully ratified the 2014-2019 collective agreements. These agreements are a major step forward to address the main bargaining priority of employers, recruitment and retention, by closing the wage gap with Community Health.

 The five-year terms of the agreements are also significant because it will bring long term labour stability to the sector and allow CSSEA time to implement cost containment strategies such as:

• Mandatory early intervention program for injured employees.
• Centralized drug dispensing for maintenance drugs (CSBT pilot).
• Developing new strategies to reduce WorkSafeBC premiums.…

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CEO Update - January 2014

Tentative Collective Agreements

 I hope everyone had a chance to unwind and relax during the holidays and are now ready for another exciting year ahead, as it is an important time for the sector.

The year started with the sector in the midst of ratifying another round of collective agreements. At CSSEA our focus in January has been on holding information meetings for members, funding agencies, benefit providers and government, and more importantly answering questions from members regarding the new tentative agreements. 

Overall both the bargaining committee and I believe the three tentative collective agreements are a major step forward for the sector and finally start to address some of the shortcomings of the past.…

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CEO Update - December 2013

2013 Annual General Meeting

I am pleased CSSEA’s 2013 AGM has now concluded with the selection of the divisional panel members, board chair and board members, and the 2014 bargaining committee. I would like to congratulate Anne Nikon and Lilla Tipton on being selected as board chair and vice chair respectively and the rest of the newly selected board and panel members. I look forward to working with all of you over the next year.

Visit CSSEA’s website for a complete list of the board, panels and bargaining committee.

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CEO Update - November 2013

AGM Reconvenes - November 14

Members are reminded the Annual General Meeting (AGM) adjourned by the membership on October 1, 2013 in Nanaimo will reconvene tomorrow Thursday, November 14, 2013 in Vancouver at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, Pavilion Ballroom, 3^rd Floor, South Tower, 1088 Burrard St.

Members can register at the hotel and registration for the AGM is free. We understand the financial hardship attending a second day of meeting presents to many members; however the membership at the meeting in Nanaimo felt it was important to provide ample time for the service divisions to have discussions before concluding the business of the AGM.

In addition to completing the important business of the AGM, at the meeting I will be updating the membership on the status of the preliminary discussions with the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) to develop a framework for 2014 bargaining.  Earlier this week the Health Sciences Professionals Bargaining Association, representing 17,000 health science professionals, reached a five-year tentative deal with Health Employers Association of BC which includes the following highlights:

• Wage increase totalling 5.5 per cent over five years; with a possibility for improvements dependent on the performance of BC's economy (Economic Stability Dividend)
  • A "me-too" clause. If other comparable public sector compensation increases exceed these increases, then the HSPBA collective agreement will be adjusted by an across-the-board percentage increase to match those compensation increases…

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