Community social services

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 Children with disabilities face a lot of challenges, but with support in the early years, many can overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Now imagine the heartbreak of the parents who learn that funding shortfalls will keep their kids from getting that help – until it's too late. That's the reality for many families...

HSA'S Heather Maschek, Heidi Coates, Stasia Hasumi and Anne Davis were among the many community social service workers who met in Ottawa. HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 Financial pressures, overflowing casework, increasing mental health concerns are just a few of the issues addressed at an October conference for community service workers hosted in Ottawa by the National Union of Public...

An arbitrator has ordered employers to use a revised medical information form following a grievance filed by the union bargaining association that represents Community Social Services workers. The new information form offers a balance between an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s right to information. Please read the full bulletin here. The new form can be downloaded here.

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN Stasia Hasumi, a Crisis Intervention Support Worker at the Comox Valley Transition Society, has plenty of high-stress moments at work. As a front-line worker at a 12-bed transition house for women and children, she needs to respond moment-by-moment to the needs of women facing danger, trauma and severely disrupted lives. "We have...

Workers in community social services understand the major issues facing women, especially the core causes and impact of growing inequality in Canada. Are you interested in learning more about engaging members to become involved in advocating for change? HSA invites members to join us for a day of training that combines the opportunity to network with other HSA members working...

CSSEA and the CSSBA held a planning meeting of the Joint Job Evaluation Committee in early December. Purpose Over the next 16 months, the committee will be collecting, reviewing and updating information relative to the Joint Job Evaluation Plan in preparation for the first scheduled distribution of the negotiated Comparability and Anomaly wage increases scheduled for April 1, 2016. What...

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...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By David Durning, HSA Senior OHS Officer Over the years, Canadian workers have fought for and gained important workplace health and safety rights. The diligent exercise of these rights is proven to be the most effective way of ensuring workplace hazards are controlled. These rights, enshrined in legislation and regulation, are: the right to know about...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By Laura Busheikin There's no doubt that having to take time off work due to an injury or illness brings a multitude of challenges. Aside from the medical demands, there are forms to fill out and anxiety around getting the proper benefits. There are often feelings of isolation. There is the uncertainty of not knowing when...