Latest: Bargaining with the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) kicked off in late May 2025 and continues with dates scheduled through January 2026.

Community social services workers are the unsung heroes of every B.C. community. They support at-risk youth, families, elders, women and children escaping violence, and young people who are aging out of foster care. They also provide support services to Indigenous families, children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities, and people with mental health challenges.

Meaningful wage and health benefit improvements, and new shift premiums for night, weekend, and evening work, are among their top bargaining issues for this round.

Quick facts: 

• The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) agreement is negotiated with the Community Social Services Employers’ Association of B.C. (CSSEA). 

• The BCGEU is the lead union of the CSSBA and represents 15,000 members. 

• Three agreements will be negotiated under the CSSBA umbrella: Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services. 

• Total workers covered: over 23,000. 

• 8,000 members belong to eight other unions including CUPE, HEU, LiUNA, HSA, CLAC, USW 1-417, UFCW and BCNU. 

• Each of the three previous collective agreements took effect April 1, 2022, and expired on March 31, 2025.