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Community social services workers will receive a new bonus early next year thanks to the efforts of the Community Social Services Bargaining Association of Unions (CSSBA), led by the BCGEU.
Vancouver (24 October 2008) - The bonus is expected to equal about 1% of each employee's earnings in 2008. It will be based on reported income on the T4 income tax form, issued by employers by the end of February, 2009. All employees of Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) agencies who earned income in 2008 will receive a bonus.
Employers will distribute the bonus cheques by the end of March 2009, accompanied by a letter from your union.
This bonus will be paid from a $3.9 million surplus in the Early Incentive Payment fund negotiated in 2006. A unique feature of that settlement was an audit, demanded by union negotiators, to ensure that any surplus was directed back to workers in the sector.
CSSEA employers rejected earlier union proposals to use this surplus bonus money to increase wages or sick pay to address the acute recruitment and retention crisis in the sector.
Bargaining for a new collective agreement in the community social services sector will take place in early 2010.