Deadline extended for setting CSS Essential Services levels

Completion date bumped to July 30

BURNABY —The BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) has extended the July 22 deadline for determining all essential services levels for Community Social Service workers in B.C. The new deadline is July 30.

Community Social Services workers are prevented from taking strike action until all essential service levels have been set at every worksite across the province. For several months, your unions worked to negotiate those essential service levels, and employers stalled and delayed. 

On June 22, the LRB ordered the organization representing your employers - the Community Social Services Employer Association (CSSEA) - to cooperate to determine essential service levels.  Since then, the process has been moving ahead, but involves potential mediation and adjudication at the LRB, and will take longer than anticipated.

While the essential services process continues, community social services workers are gearing up for job action. Hundreds of activist from across the province are attending Solidarity Schools throughout B.C. Schools were held in Prince George, Victoria, Kamloops, Kelowna, Terrace and the Lower Mainland. More schools are scheduled for Nanaimo, Fort St. John, Williams Lake and Castlegar.

Participants discussed strategies, established networks and learned about the drawn-out process of establishing essential services levels and opening regional strike headquarters.

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