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By compensating CSS members fairly for the work that they do, HSABC/NUPGE and the employer bargaining association hope that staff recruitment and retention will be improved, leading to improved consistency of care for the individuals they work with.
Vancouver (05 Feb. 2016) — The Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) has informed its members that on April 1, 2016, the first of three compensation-comparability wage increases for Community Social Services (CSS) workers will take effect.
Increase for CSS workers brings them closer to wage parity with other workers doing similar jobs
This 2.5 per cent increase, combined with the Economic Stability Dividend of 0.45 per cent, will result in an increase for all members covered by the Community Living Services and General Services collective agreements.
Compensation comparability has been one of HSABC/NUPGE's long-standing bargaining goals. Comparability is a process designed to compensate CSS workers with a pay rate closer to that of union members working in Community Health, who have historically been paid more for similar work.
Talks ongoing to determine future wage adjustments
HSABC/NUPGE continues to meet with the employer association to determine the amount of future wage adjustments that are scheduled for April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018. The union does not expect future adjustments will be the same as this year's and will keep those members informed when these agreements have been reached.
Not all job classifications will be a part of the entire comparability process, but all CSS members will receive the initial 2.5 per cent raise, and all members will continue to see general wage increases on the schedule indicated in Appendix A1 of the collective agreement.
Wage increases meant to address staff recruitment and retention problems
By compensating CSS members fairly for the work that they do, HSABC/NUPGE and the employer bargaining association hope that staff recruitment and retention will be improved, leading to improved consistency of care for the individuals they work with.
For more details on the compensation comparability project, click here to read a joint memo by the union and employer bargaining associations.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE