Health Science Professionals

The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC) have ratified the trust agreement that formally establishes the Joint Health Science Benefits Trust (JHSBT). The 2014-2019 HSPBA collective agreement included a Letter of Agreement committing the parties to establishing the joint trust for provision of health and welfare benefits. A joint trust is a self-funded...

The employer cancelled this week's meeting due to illnesses. We expect to meet with them again shortly, and will keep you posted. Background In early February, PHSA served section 54 notice that it intended to introduce a change to Lower Mainland pathology and laboratory services focusing on employees who have been in supervisory roles such as section heads, technical coordinators...

Pacific Blue Cross has circulated a bulletin explaining changes which may affect the Pharmacare coverage for some members. Please read the full memo to see if this affects you. The changes take effect April 1. You can contact Pacific Blue Cross with any questions at 604 419-2600 or 1-888-275-4672 (toll-free).

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN For many cancer patients, getting enough to eat is a challenge. At a time when being well-nourished is so essential, they face an array of challenging symptoms – mouth sores, taste changes, changes in saliva, nausea, vomiting, swallowing problems, constipation, and more, all potential side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation. And certain cancers, in...

Following a February 24 meeting and review of feedback from the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, led by HSA, Provincial Health Services Authority has announced it intends to rethink the laboratory services redesign proposed earlier this month. On February 3, PHSA served section 54 notice that it intended to introduce a change to Lower Mainland pathology and laboratory services focusing...

Earlier this month Provincial Health Services Authority served section 54 notice that it intends to introduce a change to Lower Mainland pathology and laboratory services focusing on employees who have been in supervisory roles such as section heads, technical coordinators and chiefs. HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, has delivered a three-level response: The Health Science...

The 37.5 hour work week first took effect on September 1, 2013, and over the course of that fall HSA filed a significant number of grievances on behalf of members impacted by the implementation. In the 16 months since then, a lot has happened. The first six months were mostly unsuccessful discussions about grievances, but the parties were able to...

Provincial Health Services Authority has served section 54 notice informing the Health Sciences Professional Bargaining Association that it intends to introduce a change to Lower Mainland pathology and laboratory services. This change will affect the terms, conditions or security of employment of a significant number of health science professional bargaining unit employees. PHSA's notice stated that their redesign is focused...

The following letter from HSA President Val Avery was sent to members December 11, 2014 Dear member, Assaults on health care workers in Penticton and Kamloops have dominated the news this week. Incidents like these have become all too common in health care settings. It is time for action. I am calling on British Columbia's Minister of Health, Hon. Terry...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 Name: Alka Kundi. Nickname in high school: Well, my name is Alka, so the nicknames should be obvious. Alkaseltzer, Alcoholic and Alkatraz. In retrospect, I'm not sure if these were nicknames or if people were just making fun of me, but oh well. Job title and department: Labour Relations Officer, Servicing. What you actually do, in...