I am deeply honoured to have been elected your president at HSA's 43rd convention in April.
I've been a member of this union for 31 years, and I've served at every level – as an activist, steward, a committee member, a director on the board, as vice-president and most recently as president, appointed under the constitution when Reid Johnson decided to move on last fall.
Over 300 delegates from around the province gathered in April to vote overwhelmingly in favour of continuing the fight to defend public health care, the work of the Committee on Equality and Social Action, and to work to protect and improve services for patients and clients who count on the health care and community social services HSA members deliver.
On May 1st, a group of 20 HSA members from around the province and from a range of professions spent the day in Victoria.
HSA and its members played a big role in a recent event hosted by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC.
HSA marked yesterday's expiry of the Canadian Health Accord with a public forum on mental health services.
BC HEALTH COALITION
The current Health Accord expires March 31st, 2014 and the federal government is refusing to renegotiate it. Expiration of the accord will result in a $36 billion dollar cut to public health care, and an additional $16.5 billion dollar cut to health care equalization payments.
On March 31, people across the country will be holding rallies to sound the alarm and let their MP's know that it is time to step forward and ensure that our health care system has a future. Here in BC, 8 communities are holding rallies - see list below.
Flash Mob
March 8 at 1:00 pm
Come by the Vancouver Art Gallery, Robson Street side, wearing something that is white, purple and green, and show your support for the statement "Women's Rights are Human Rights". Presented by We Can BC, Amnesty International, Oxfam, VDLC, Maureen McGrath, and UFCW Local 247.
HSA invites women in our union to join us for two days of sharing to celebrate International Women’s Day. HSA is providing the opportunity for members to participate in a workshop that combines attending IWD events and in-house HSA training.
Learn about:
• the significance of International Women’s Day
• women’s struggles and achievement
• the history of women in politics and the labour movement
HSA will hold a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday, December 5, to update members on the tentative agreement reached earlier this month.
The phone call is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST and will last an hour. You will have an opportunity to hear from your negotiators and ask and hear questions and answers about the contract.
It's easy. You just have to be at home at 7 p.m., and you will be connected to the call.
