Earlier this year, an agreement was reached that could allow union members covered by the Community Social Services (CSS) General Services, Community Living and Aboriginal Services collective agreements to transfer seniority as it pertains to wages and vacation from a job with one CSS employer to another within the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA).

BURNABY—The Community Social Services Labour Adjustment and Education Fund (LAEF) is designed to encourage professional development and continued employment for workers in the community-based social services sector.

The LAEF covers retraining to aid and assist individuals in the community social services sector who have lost their job due to layoff, bumping, contracting out or retendering, or have had their hours significantly reduced; or who are taking courses or upgrading to continue in a unionized community social service position in British Columbia.

BURNABY—Over the next 16 months, the joint union-employer committee for the community social services sector will be collecting, reviewing and updating information relative to the Joint Job Evaluation Plan in preparation for the first scheduled distribution of the negotiated Comparability and Anomaly wage increases scheduled for April 1, 2016.

The committee will be meeting in early February to finalize the terms of reference and develop the preliminary work plan to have the work completed before April 1, 2016.

CUPE National rep Cheryl Colborne and CUPE BC regional vice-president Michael Lanier at Inclusion BC conference.

NANAIMO—CUPE BC’s strong support for social justice issues and campaigns continued this week with the union’s sponsorship contribution and presence at the Inclusion B.C. - Tides of Change Conference (June 11-14).

BURNABY - Community social services workers have voted 85.6 percent in favour of a new five-year collective agreement.  The contract includes wage adjustments and increases of up to 11.5 percent and will be in effect from April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019.

Ratification vote results released today show Community Living workers voted 83.4 percent to accept the agreement. General Services ratified by 90.6 percent.  Aboriginal Services ratified by 63 percent.  The weighted average ratification vote for all three subsectors was 85.6 percent. 

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) has reached a tentative agreement for the 11,000 union members working in community-based social services across the province.

Wednesday, November 6 is Community Social Service (CSS) Worker Appreciation Day, and in addition to showing gratitude to those workers who provide vital services across British Columbia, we should also reflect on how society treats our most vulnerable citizens and their support workers.

There are more than 10,000 unionized community-based service workers in BC and CUPE BC is proud to represent 2,500 of them.

To prepare for the next round of bargaining, CUPE is conducting a survey to gather feedback about how to improve your collective agreement, which expires on March 31, 2014.

The survey focuses on your priorities regarding benefits, scheduling, and compensation.

The confidential survey should only take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

BURNABY - Services for vulnerable families may be cut across B.C. following the government's failure to provide bridge funding for a 1.5% wage increase that was negotiated for frontline workers earlier this year, the Community Social Services Bargaining Association says.

Family service workers provide vital community-based social programs for vulnerable children, struggling youth and families across British Columbia. Community living workers provide programs and supports for people with developmental disabilities.

Community Social Service members:

Limited opportunity to buy your past pension service to increase your guaranteed retirement income

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