Community Social Services negotiations to take place Thursday

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) will commence bargaining with the employer on Thursday, May 13, 2010 in Richmond.

The CSSBA is the joint union bargaining association, and expects the first meeting will involve establishing a protocol agreement and setting dates and locations for a full exchange of proposals for the Community Living Services and General Services collective agreements.

The bargaining association decided to call the meeting after the Community Social Services Employers Association distributed an update to its members announcing its readiness to begin bargaining.

“Our members are anxious for us to begin the bargaining process on a new collective agreement,” said Brent Camilleri, chief spokesperson for the CSSBA.  “We want a fair deal and we want it sooner rather than later.”

The CSSBA bargains on behalf of 15,000 unionized community-based social services workers in B.C., including UFCW 1518 Social Services Sector Members.