CBS (Technical) Bargaining Update #2

Your Bargaining Committee met with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) on September 16-18, 2025, to continue negotiations on your new Collective Agreement, excluding wages.

While we came prepared to engage in meaningful negotiations on all outstanding proposals, progress was frustratingly slow due to the employer’s refusal to discuss monetary proposals. We found their lack of preparedness did not let us progress as we had hoped.

Over three days, our committee provided detailed rationale for our proposals, emphasizing the need for improvements that provide members with greater work-life balance, including fair scheduling and better on-call provisions. However, rather than countering our proposals, CBS would only respond with “not in agreement”.

While this is not the pace we hoped for, your committee remains dedicated to pushing for the improvements you deserve and securing a fair deal that reflects the important work you do for Albertans each and every day.

Once we secure further dates, we will update you all.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your negotiating committee members or you can contact Labour Relations Officers James Stevenson at JStevenson@hsaa.ca or Gina Schwengler at GSchwengler@hsaa.ca.

In solidarity,

Your CBS Technical Bargaining Team

Rachel Jackson, MLT I - Calgary

Taunya Mielke, MLT II - Edmonton

Kim Courte, DCA - Red Deer

Jaswinder Singh Rana, MLT II Calgary

Gina Schwengler, Labour Relations Officer - Spokesperson 

James Stevenson, Labour Relations Officer - Lead Spokesperson