BURNABY - The first of three annual wage increases for Community Social Services (CSS) workers will begin on April 1.
This 2.5% Compensation Comparability Increase, combined with an Economic Stability Dividend of 0.45%, will result in an increase for all members covered by the Community Living Services and General Services collective agreements. The hike is expected to improve staff recruitment and retention, leading to improved consistency of care for the individuals that CUPE members work with.
Compensation comparability has been a long-standing bargaining goal for CUPE. It is designed to compensate CSS workers at a closer pay rate to union members working in Community Health, who have historically been paid more for similar work.
Meetings with the employer association will continue in order to determine the exact amount of the wage adjustments scheduled for April 1 in 2017 and 2018. Not all job classifications will be a part of the entire comparability process, but all CSS members will receive the initial 2.5% raise and will continue to get general wage increases.
For more details, including wage grids, please see the joint union/employer memo.
COPE-491