Nurses

Further to the 2012-2014 collective agreement between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association and Health Employers’ Association of BC, the parties have agreed to move the effective date for full implementation of the Pharmacare tie-in to June 1, 2013. The BlueNet direct-pay card will also be implemented June 1, 2013. The BlueNet Card allows direct-pay at the pharmacy for eligible prescriptions, instead...

The B.C. Liberal government began debate last week on Bill 18, legislation that fundamentally alters bargaining in the health sector. In a brief opening to the debate in the B.C. legislature, health minister Margaret MacDiarmid claimed the legislation was in line with last year’s raid by the BC Nurses’ Union on Licenced Practical Nurses represented by HEU and other unions...

The Canadian Cancer Society – UBC Cancer Prevention Centre invites HSA members to participate in this study: Are you a woman who works shifts? You may be eligible to participate in a sleep improvement program that may improve your quality of life, and help reduce breast cancer. Research has shown that women shift workers exposed to light at night are...

In the last round of bargaining, the Nurses Bargaining Association negotiated changes to the extended health care plan. Prescription drug coverage now includes a PharmaCare tie-in. The change will go into effect on February 1, 2013. The NBA agreed to introduce a managed formulary through the PharmaCare tie in to help manage rising costs, and ensure that members can continue...

In the last round of bargaining, the Nurses Bargaining Association negotiated changes to the extended health care plan. Prescription drug coverage now includes a PharmaCare tie-in. The change will go into effect on February 1, 2013.The NBA agreed to introduce a managed formulary through the PharmaCare tie in to help manage rising costs, and ensure that members can continue to...

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocationalrehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- wasmurdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served asa sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violencein the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on thejob. Tohonour David, the HSA board...

In spite of an agreement reached between HSA and other health care unions and the Ministry of Health last week, some members continue to get pressure to either produce evidence of vaccination against seasonal influenza, or wear a mask during the flu season, which was declared open December 1. For members information, at the meeting held between the Ministry of...

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 NURSES NEW CONTRACT MAKES ACCESS TO MEDICATION HARDER PENSIONS Q AND A BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSION AND BENEFIT ADVOCATE Q. As a new HSA member who falls under the Nurses Bargaining Association (NBA) contract, could you please explain to me what the -PharmaCare tie-in" is all about? The PharmaCare tie-in was negotiated out...

On the eve of the implementation of a new province-wide policy that threatened to fire health science professionals who refused to declare whether they had been vaccinated against seasonal flu, Health Sciences Association has negotiated an agreement that sees the government back off on the policys punitive aspects. This year, the Ministry of Health will focus on educational efforts and...

Health Sciences Association, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), is calling for the withdrawal of a province-wide policy that threatens to fire health science professionals who refuse to declare whether they have been vaccinated against seasonal flu. -HEABC has introduced a policy unprecedented anywhere in Canada. The policy forces virtually anybody who works in health care...