A tentative agreement has been reached for British Columbias 15,000 community-based social service workers, thereby averting a strike. Talks went into the weekend to avert looming job action.

Key bargaining demands were met, as the tentative agreement improves job security and fair work practices for workers, such as bumping, job selection language and bullying. In addition, the government has approved a $600,000 retraining grant for workers in the sector.

The bargaining association unanimously recommends the settlement.

Last ditch community social services bargaining talks resumed August 9, and lasted through the week. Talks are set to continue on Monday.

Your bargaining committee has been clear that any agreement must focus on your key demands - namely job security, fair work practices, and dealing with the continuing bleeding of jobs and decimation of services in the sector.

On May 30, you gave your bargaining committee an 82% strike mandate, which expires on August 30. Any agreement must be reached before that date.

Majority of essential service levels now established, remainder by August 5

After numerous delays, community social service workers in BC can expect job action to commence in August. The long process of determining what services will be maintained as essential during a strike is finally drawing to a close.

Essential services levels have now been set at ninety-seven per cent of the 220 agencies that make up BCs community social services sector.

Essential service levels to be set by July 22

We are making steady progress in moving towards job action following the May 30 strike vote. 

Community social services workers and their supporters are taking their call for a fair collective agreement into the streets of Vancouver on Thursday, June 16.

The early morning rally outside the offices of the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) will draw public attention to the ongoing crisis in community-based services and what needs to be done to improve working and caring conditions throughout the sector.

Unions call on B.C. government and employers to protect community jobs and services

Frontline community social services workers across British Columbia have given their bargaining committees a strike mandate of 85% in Community Living and 77% in General Services. The vote follows more than 18 months of protracted contract talks that broke down on March 30.

Seven years ago, BC's Deputy Premier and Minister for Children & Families, Christy Clark, introduced legislation to establish Community Living BC, promising that the new authority would change the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families for the better.

Vancouver ... A -families first" agenda for British Columbia should include listening to families who are struggling to support adults with developmental disabilities, says the BC Community Living Action Group (BC-CLAG).

Are you a community social service worker and haven't had a chance to cast your strike vote ballot? Please attend information sessions and vote at any location below:

Strike vote meetings for members in the community social service sector are wrapping up in the next week.

Heres what you can do to support the people who work in this sector, as well as the families in your community who rely on the important services they deliver: send a quick email to the Premier through www.cssfairdeal.ca ... in one click.