Tentative Agreement Informations Sessions
Tuesday, May 5, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82069990603?pwd=zeYSUfaCI2Uw591bPOQEws9On6HSLa.1
Meeting ID: 820 6999 0603 Passcode: 363678
Tuesday, May 5, 6:00 PM – 9:00PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83722517598?pwd=Niwg7S0FOiGQCSboxL5xrVZyHBrBj3.1
Meeting ID: 837 2251 7598 Passcode: 143680
Thursday, May 7, 6:00 PM – 9:00PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82726820608?pwd=q6BF6b8MQafCrOozVJrbHJGz3ZgSzF.1
Meeting ID: 827 2682 0608 Passcode: 889920
Friday May 8, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83511188282?pwd=BUnEqkQPjVvAuKjObX7Rbimaa30rpr.1
Meeting ID: 835 1118 8282 Passcode: 658496
Indigenous Services Agreement Information Session
Tuesday, May 12, 12:00 PM (Noon)
This session will be conducted with the BCGEU. A link will be sent by BCGEU.
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Members in community social services know too well the challenges facing our province,
with rising housing and grocery costs and increasing pressure on our social support
networks. We knew that this round of bargaining was coming at a critical time for all of you,
and we asked you to help shape our key priorities for bargaining.
You told your bargaining committee that meaningful wage and health benefit
improvements, including for increased mental health coverage and gender affirming care,
as well as new shift premiums, are among your top bargaining issues for this round. With
this information, we prepared to negotiate three agreements under the CSSBA umbrella:
Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services.
We kicked off negotiations with your employers in May 2025 and after months of hard
work, we reached a tentative agreement on April 23rd, 2026. We were committed to
bargaining a new agreement that would reflect your priorities and ensure that you are
supported in your work to provide quality care in your community.
We will be holding a series of virtual information sessions on the tentative agreement over
the next week. You can find dates, times and Zoom links on the last page of this bulletin.
We made some real gains in this round of negotiations, and we are proud to recommend
for you to vote ‘yes’ to ratify your new collective agreement.
In solidarity,
Your CUPE Representatives to the CSSBA Bargaining Committee
Sheryl Burns CUPE 1936
Lee-Ann Lalli CUPE 1936
Valeria Mancilla CUPE 1936
Kate Pirillo CUPE 1936
Bob Crozier CUPE 523
Laura House CUPE 3999
Tentative Agreement Highlights
All members in Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services will
receive a general wage increase of 3% every year, retroactive to April 1st, 2025.
In addition to this wage gain, here are some highlights of other gains and improvements:
• Mileage rate increased to 65¢/km effective two months post-ratification
• Psychologist/counsellor coverage increased to $1,500 effective October 1st, 2026
• Vision care glasses/lenses/laser increased to $500 effective October 1st, 2026
• Elimination of the dual coverage restriction for extended health benefits and for
dental benefits effective April 1st, 2028
• Eliminate Step 1 of the JJEP wage grid effective six months post-ratification
• Health sector comparability wage increases effective April 2028
• Shift premiums tailored to sector, effective September, 2028
• Retention incentive of $1,100 per regular FTE as of January 2027, based on hours
worked in 2026, payable April 2027
• Gender-affirming care support through a dedicated fund
• Improved health and safety language including workload-related concerns
Indigenous Services Members
Members that work in Indigenous Services will receive all main table agreement items.
In addition, there are gains that are specific to this sub-sector:
• Targeted wage adjustments for existing delegated jobs
• Implementation of new Indigenous Services Job Evaluation Plan resulting in wage
increases for the majority of existing non-delegated jobs
• Increase to meal allowances effective July 1st, 2026
• Renewal of Retention Incentive Payments
• New Indigenous Services Education Fund
• New Indigenous Dispute Resolution Process to resolve grievances and complaints
• New agreement for Indigenous Services employers to voluntarily participate in the
Public Service Pension Plan