News & Updates

Nanaimo News Bulletin Byline: Niomi Pearson A two-day strike by health care workers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and across the province will mean a delay in services for some residents. After nine months of contract negotiations and serving strike notice to B.C. employers, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) announced that job action will commence today and tomorrow...

Cowichan News Leader Pictorial Byline: Peter Rusland Cowichanians whose long-awaited CT-scan dates are bumped by this week's hospital labour strife will be re-booked quickly, health brass promised Thursday. "Those dates will be rescheduled as soon as possible; they wont go back to the bottom of the list," said Suzanne Germain of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. "If someone has not...

Trail Daily Times By Jeff Nagel Source: Surrey North Delta Leader The province has granted a one-year reprieve from its directive that health workers wear a mask this flu season if they refuse to be vaccinated. Those who don't comply won't be disciplined, deputy health minister Graham Whitmarsh said in a Nov. 30 letter to health authorities. Enforcement that was...

Alberni Valley Times The B.C. government has temporarily backed away from a controversial plan to force thousands of provincial health workers to get a flu shot before they can work with patients. Instead of forcing workers to wear a mask or have the mandatory flu vaccination, the B.C. Health Ministry said it will work towards voluntary compliance from workers in...

There will be no Community Social Services job action between December 17, 2012 and January 6, 2013. Details will be announced shortly regarding next weeks strike action (Dec 10-14) on Vancouver Island. As always, workers will be contacted directly if your agency or workplace is a target for job action. From December 17, its time to take a break and...

Negotiators for health science professionals and health employers have agreed to mediation nine months after bargaining began. Mediator Vince Ready was brought in by the parties this week. -We are pleased to have Mr. Ready join us in trying to kick-start meaningful negotiations," said Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers. -And weve already seen the benefit...

Vancouver SUn By Terri Theodore, The Canadian Press The province's health care workers objected to the mandatory vaccination program saying it was coercive and punitive.Photograph by: Jeff Mcintosh, The Canadian Press Files , The Canadian PressThe B.C. government has temporarily backed away from a controversial plan to force thousands of provincial health workers to get a flu shot before they...

24 Hours Vancouver By CHRIS CAMPBELL, 24 HOURS LABOUR Metro Vancouver patients can expect to wait longer for CT scans and MRIs as the Health Sciences Association announced rotating strikes for Thursday and Friday. Medical imaging technologists will be operating at essential-service levels from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday, except those at Surrey Memorial Hospital. "There may be additional waits,"...

Vernon Morning Star There is going to be some disruption in services at Vernon Jubilee Hospital this week. As part of an ongoing labour dispute, pharmacists will reduce their work to essential services Thursday. On Friday, medical imaging technologists who conduct X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds will reduce their work to essential service levels. "Health science professionals have been...

Kamloops Daily News By Mike Youds The Daily News; Canadian Press A decision to ease introduction of a policy requiring thousands of health-care workers to receive flu vaccinations is winning applause from some corners. Instead of forcing workers to get flu shots, the Health Ministry says it will work toward getting compliance from workers in the first year of the...