Members in the multi-union Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) voted 95 per cent in favour of the tentative agreement reached with more than 200 employers, represented by the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA).
The agreement covers about 19,000 community social services workers across the province, including more than 1,500 HEU members.
The CSSBA had been in contract talks since February 2022 to negotiate a collective agreement that represents the bargaining association’s key priorities:
- fair and equitable wages, including comparability with other public sector contracts;
- meaningful and true reconciliation for Indigenous workers;
- safer and healthier workplaces, including paid leaves and better access to mental health supports; and
- new language that promotes and recognizes the membership’s diversity.
In addition, the following gains were achieved specifically for Indigenous Services:
- wage parity for all classifications with the Main Public Service collective agreement;
- a retention incentive payment for all classifications; and
- a commitment to continue discussions on parity with the Main Public Service agreement for recruitment and retention, compensatory recognition for cultural competency, and further Indigenization of the collective agreement.