Contract negotiations

Prince George Citizen Some elective surgeries are expected to be postponed Friday as members of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. complete a two-day job action. For 24 hours beginning at midnight Friday morning, staff who operate diagnostic imaging equipment such as MRIs will reduce their staffing levels to minimum essential levels across the province. There will be enough staff...

Canadian Press The second stage of strike action by members of the Health Sciences Association hits BC hospitals today. Workers who deliver diagnostic imaging services like x-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds will scale back to essential services as part of an effort to pressure the government to come up with a better contract offer. The union's job action began yesterday...

Comox Valley Record North Island community workers will strike in Campbell River and Courtenay on Monday. Professionals from not-for-profit agencies that support vulnerable families on the North Island will be on strike Dec. 10. Community workers want to send a clear message to the B.C. government: Stop putting vulnerable families last! Since 2004, the B.C. Liberal government has cut $300...

The Daily Bulletin (Kimberley) Hospital pharmacists and medical imaging technicians plan to go ahead with brief strikes Thursday and Friday as a mediator attempts to reach a settlement with 16,000 health science employees at hospitals and clinics across B.C. Mediator Vince Ready was brought in Tuesday after negotiations that started in February failed to produce an agreement. The Health Employers...

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 IN OUR LONG HISTORY, HSA MEMBERS HAVE RARELY FELT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PREPARE FOR A STRIKE. Our health science professional members have only gone on strike three times before now, and the last time more than 11 years ago. Its not something we take lightly. That is why it is so...

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 IN AN IDEAL WORLD, STRIKES WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. Employees and employers would meet at the bargaining table, discuss bargaining proposals based upon reason, justice and mutual respect. They would use objective data and negotiate a settlement. In reality, that is often what happens. However, sometimes there are significantly different points of view about...

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS DELIVERED A RESOUNDING 90 PERCENT STRIKE VOTE TO BACK THEIR BARGAINING COMMITTEE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH BC'S HEALTH EMPLOYERS. -This strong vote sends a clear message to government and health authorities that its time to come to the table and negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement," said Reid Johnson, President 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...

The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 AFTER NINE MONTHS OF HARD BARGAINING, WE HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE. LET ME TELL YOU HOW WE GOT HERE. You have given the bargaining committee a clear mandate: restore competitive wages, protect benefits and protect working conditions, including dealing with workload and call issues. We have spent nine months trying to kick start negotiations...

The Report: June 2012 vol.33 num.2 NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER ADRIAN DIX told HSA delegates his party is committed to building a stronger provincial health care system in order to build prosperity in British Columbia. -We have to respond to the challenges of the public health care system in the 21st century thats under attack from Ottawa and under attack...