Welcome to the ratification page for BCGEU members in CSS.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) is pleased to announce a tentative agreement has been reached with the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA). This includes agreements for workers in the Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services sub-sectors.

Your bargaining committee unanimously supports the tentative agreement and is encouraging all members to vote in favour of ratification.

Your bargaining committee is working to put together the information that members need to make an informed vote, including full details of the tentative agreement. That information and the details of when our vote will be conducted will be posted here on the BargainingBC website and sent by email.

The tentative agreement has a three-year term and includes the following highlights:

• Low-wage redress* increases, retroactive for all employees (past and present) to April 1, 2022
• $0.25/hour increase to all wage grids, retroactive for all employees (past and present) to April 1, 2022
• 3.24% increase to all wage grids, retroactive for all employees (past and present) to April 1, 2022
• At least a 5.5% general wage increase, effective the first pay period after April 1, 2023
• At least a 2% general wage increase, effective the first pay period after April 1, 2024
• Additional wage comparability increases for all classifications
• Increase to transportation allowance, effective date of ratification
• 100% paid sick leave, effective April 1, 2024
• Improvements to health and welfare benefits, leave provisions, safety and health, layoff and recall, bullying and harassment language.

In addition, the following are highlights on the gains achieved specifically for Indigenous Services:

• Wage parity for all classifications with Main Public Service collective agreement
• Retention incentive payment for all classifications
• Commitment to continue discussions on parity with Main Public Service agreement for recruitment and retention, compensatory recognition for cultural competency and further Indigenization of the collective agreement 

Click here to view the Comprehensive Report which outlines the changes proposed in the entire tentative agreement.

* Low-wage redress (LWR) refers to funds that are meant to help reduce long-term inequalities in compensation in both community social services and health care sectors.

For information on the voting process of this agreement click the link here: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/css_voting

Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions about the ratification process.