Community Subsector

The Health Services & Support – Community Subsector Association Collective Agreement covers over 25,300 health care support workers in BC. The British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU), the United Food and Commercial Workers’ Union (UFCW) and the Health Sciences Association (HSA) represent the employees in the Community subsector.

Employees provide support services in various community settings including private homes, group homes, residential community living homes, supported employment programs, child development centres, adult day programs, mental health centres, community service agencies and health authorities throughout BC.

Community health workers make up the largest classification group in this subsector. Community health workers are employed to provide home support services through contracted agencies and directly for the province's health authorities.

Status

HEABC and the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) began negotiations for a renewed collective agreement on March 4, 2025. The current CBA collective agreement expired March 31, 2025; however, the terms and conditions remain in effect until a new agreement is reached. In November, the union announced that their members had voted in favour of a strike mandate in support of their negotiations for a renewed collected agreement. This positive strike vote does not mean that the union can commence legal job action. Essential Service Orders must still be issued by the Labour Relations Board for all health sector worksites in the province before any health care union/bargaining association can engage in legal job action. The union must also provide 72-hour strike notice once those Essential Service Orders are issued. The parties are scheduled to continue negotiations throughout February 2026. HEABC will continue to communicate with members on the prospect of job action in the health sector as information is available.