As a member of HSA, you're practicing smart investment strategies every day.
Every two weeks, you invest in your future through your pension plan. You're not spending that money on another latte.
You do not have all your eggs in one basket. In fact, you have a diversified real estate portfolio – and it's a great example of responsible investing.
My name is Mike Pond. I'm five years sober this week and your union helped save my life.
When I received my Masters in Social Work in 1995, I thought my days as a psychiatric nurse were behind me. But life has a way of throwing us curve balls. After two decades of successfully helping clients battle addictions, I succumbed to one myself. In a catastrophic free-fall, I lost everything: my practice, my home and my family. What made it worse: as a therapist I was ably positioned to watch myself fall and powerless to prevent it.
During the last round of HSPBA/HEABC collective bargaining, the parties agreed to create a joint union/employer committee to identify and address recruitment and retention challenges in health science professions that are experiencing shortages, or other recruitment and retention issues.
Did you know that some health authority staff like youth counsellors are not allowed to text their patients? Is there any other way to communicate with a young person?
Members are advised that Pacific Blue Cross will suspend its pay direct and online claim services for one week to allow for a major transition to an upgraded health and dental system.
The services will be suspended from March 27 to April 3, 2014.
HSA members are increasingly looking to get their information in a digital format. Whether it's email, web sites or social media, members are using desktop computers, tablets and smartphones to keep informed.
BY JEANNE MEYERS, LABOUR RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES
As many members know, the process of transitioning to a 37.5 hour work week has been frustrating.
From the beginning, employers have misunderstood and misinterpreted the terms of the negotiated agreement. They have attempted to reduce hours of work, eliminate earned days off and even layoff members.
None of this is allowed by the agreement, which states that managers must work with staff in good faith to develop mutually-agreed schedules.
BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION
Negotiating contracts is a big part of what unions do for their members. But it's not the only thing.
Members of the multi-union Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) – including almost 800 HSA members -- have voted 78.7% in favour of accepting a new collective agreement with the Health Employers’ Association of BC (HEABC).
The five-year collective agreement expires on March 31, 2019 and covers over 15,000 union members working in community health across the province.
HOW TO VOTE
