Latest: Community health workers across the province voted by 91% to ratify a new four-year collective agreement aimed at narrowing long-standing wage gaps and strengthening frontline community care across the province. (See media release here.)

Who is the CBA?

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) represents unionized workers in B.C.’s community health sector across seven unions. Its bargaining committee – made up of union members and representatives – negotiates the CBA collective agreement covering over 27,000 workers province wide.

What is community health?

Community health workers provide care across B.C. in seniors’ care (home support workers and care aides), mental health and substance use services, adult day programs, detox and emergency shelters, supportive housing, women’s health clinics, regional health units, administrative support, and other community-based health services.

Negotiations timeline: 

Negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) began on March 4, 2025. On October 3, 2025, the CBA bargaining committee reached an impasse in negotiations with HEABC and the provincial government. A strike authorization vote opened November 3 and closed on November 27, 2025 with CBA members voting 92.3% in favour of authorizing job action, if necessary, to secure a fair deal. On February 22 a tentative deal was reached and the agreement was ratified on March 20, 2026.

Quick facts: 

• The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) agreement is negotiated with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). 

• Total workers covered by the agreement: over 27,000. 

• The BCGEU is the lead union of the multi-union CBA representing over 16,000 members. 

• About 10,000 members of the CBA belong to six other unions including UFCW, HEU, HSA, CUPE, USWA and BCNU.  

• The new collective agreement is effective April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2029.