A message from HSA President Kane Tse

Labour Day is usually a time spent reflecting on the past. We remember the contributions of working people, celebrate the many victories, and remind ourselves and the world of the importance of collective action.

But this has been a very different year. We don’t have to recall the distant past to see the remarkable commitment of working people in BC. We’re seeing history being made, all around us, in real time.

All HSA members covered by the Health Science Professionals, Community Health, Community Social Services and Nurses Bargaining Associations are now entitled to a statutory holiday held annually on September 30.
 
This date marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a moment to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada. The establishment of the national holiday is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, and was instituted by the federal government with legislation that passed in June.
 

Health Sciences Association of BC has contracted Viewpoints Research to conduct an on line survey to explore members' priorities and concerns as your union begins negotiations for your next contract. Viewpoints Research an industry leader with 30 years of experience conducting research for unions and other progressive organizations. Using an experienced third-party professional research firm for this membership survey ensures confidentiality and the highest quality of data.

HSA’s Board of Directors has voted unanimously to waive the union’s policy on collecting union dues on all employment income to exclude employment income earned under the Temporary Pandemic Pay announced May 19.
 

TO: HSA members working in Long Term Care

In an effort to slow the transmission of COVID-19 in BC’s hard-hit Long Term Care facilities, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, issued two province-wide orders aimed at restricting movement of health care staff between Long Term Care facilities. The orders went into effect yesterday, Thursday March 26, 2020

UPDATED APRIL 15

As the province undergoes major reform to the delivery of primary care in BC, we have a valuable opportunity to learn from and build off the successes seen in other jurisdictions. HSA has long been an advocate for expanding team-based approaches to primary and community care. They allow health professionals with specialized knowledge and skills to collaborate to optimize patient care. 

One of the features of the new Community Health collective agreement that expires on March 31, 2022 is a $40 million fund for low wage redress. This is different than the comparability monies distributed in the agreement that expires March 31, 2019 because it will be applied to a greater number of positions. You can find the collective agreement language HERE on the first page under “Low Wage Redress.”

Community health sector workers, including 1000 HSA members, have voted in favour of a tentative agreement reached with health employers. The three-year will take effect April 1, 2019 and expire March 31, 2022.