Majority of essential service levels now established, remainder by August 5

BURNABY—After numerous delays, community social service workers in B.C. can expect job action to commence in August. The long process of determining what services will be maintained as essential during a strike is finally drawing to a close.

Essential services levels have now been set at ninety-seven per cent of the 220 agencies that make up B.C.’s community social services sector.

The B.C.

BURNABY— With essential service levels for CUPE’s community social services throughout B.C. nearly complete, it’s more important than ever to get out and support the workers who provide these services.

“Essential service levels will be concluded by the end of the month,” says CUPE’s CSS coordinator Cheryl Colborne.

Completion date bumped to July 30

BURNABY —The BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) has extended the July 22 deadline for determining all essential services levels for Community Social Service workers in B.C. The new deadline is July 30.

Community Social Services workers are prevented from taking strike action until all essential service levels have been set at every worksite across the province.

Essential service levels to be set by July 22

BURNABY—We are making steady progress in moving towards job action following the May 30 strike vote. 

Community Social Service workers are prevented from taking strike action until essential service levels have been set at every worksite across the province. For several months, your unions have been working to negotiate those essential service levels, and employers have stalled and delayed.

Workers call for action on community care crisis

VANCOUVER – Community social services workers will take to the streets tomorrow morning to press their employers and the provincial government for a fair collective agreement. Contract talks broke off March 30.

Representatives of the more than 15,000 community social service workers in 220 agencies across B.C. and their supporters will rally outside the offices of the Community Social Services Employers’ Association at 8 am. CUPE represents 2,500 workers in B.C.'s Community Social Services sector.

Community social services workers take a stand

Unions call on province and employers to protect community jobs and services

BURNABY—Frontline community social service workers across British Columbia have given their bargaining committee a strike mandate of 85 per cent in Community Living and 77 per cent in General Services.  The vote follows more than 18 months of protracted contract talks that broke down on March 30.

“This strike vote comes at a time of deepening crisis in community social services,” says bargaining committee member Michael Lanier.  “We are seeing group h

BURNABY — CUPE’s community social services workers have completed their strike votes and added them to the CSS Bargaining Association sector-wide vote.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association Negotiating Committee is scheduled to meet to tabulate the votes on May 27-28. The committee will also be discussing strike actions, campaigns and member involvement. The committee expects to notify the Labour Relations Board (LRB) of the results of the strike vote on Monday, May 30. 

Meanwhile, the Unions continue working on setting essential services levels.

VANCOUVER — CUPE National President Paul Moist was just in Vancouver to speak at the CUPE BC annual convention. He has a strong message for community social services workers and for the employers’ association:

 “Community social service workers provide support and frontline services that maintain our social safety net. They are the people who are in daily and direct contact with children, people living with disabilities, the homeless, those with addictions, new Canadians, families in crisis, women experiencing abuse and others facing traumatic situations.

BURNABY—The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) has notified the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA) today that its members are walking away from the negotiating table.

On two key priority language articles, the employer continues to table concessions, and no real employment security has been tabled. Due to the fact that the CSSBA was unable to negotiate a tentative MOA under the mandated subcommittee, all proposals from both parties will revert back to the December 15, 2010 package.