The 2014-2019 HSPBA collective agreement includes provisions committing the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC) to establish the Joint Health Science Benefits Trust (JHSBT) for provision of health and welfare benefits. The JHSBT will be governed by a Board of Trustees with an equal number of trustees appointed by HSPBA and HEABC, and members of the HSPBA Working Group have now been selected to act as interim trustees.

The Working Group members and interim trustees are:

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015

BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD
HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE

Q: I understand there was a presentation on the new health and welfare trust at the recent HSA annual convention. What were the highlights?

Following the successful launch of the pilot project in April, the Enhanced Disability Management Program for affiliate employers is expanding once again.

EDMP, which is already supporting thousands of HSA members working in health authorities, has a proven track record of helping members who are absent from work due either to a work-related or non-work related illness or injury, or when they are struggling at work.

VANCOUVER – CUPE 873-03 served 72-hour strike notice to SN Transport yesterday after attempts to reach a first collective agreement failed. The union represents 115 workers who provide patient transfer services in the Lower Mainland. “From the moment this group of workers joined CUPE and we started bargaining their first agreement, the employer has resisted and used foot dragging tactics,” said CUPE National Representative John Strohmaier. “No-one likes to go on strike, but this employer has done nothing to reach a fair first collective agreement but put up obstacles.”

This is an update for all BC Cancer Agency members with outstanding 37.5 hour work week grievances, and follows up on the bulletin we sent out to you on February 10.

In February we told you that the employer was prepared to negotiate a resolution to the outstanding 37.5 hour grievances at the BC Cancer Agency, and that we were working towards a prototype resolution at the Fraser Valley Cancer Centre. We were hopeful that discussions would result in resolutions for many of the outstanding grievances.

The 2014 – 2019 Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) contracts have been printed and are beginning to be distributed to members at worksites across the province.
 
Employers are responsible for the distribution of the collective agreements to every employee. If you do not receive a copy of your collective agreement, please contact your Human Resources department to receive one.
 
Human Resources departments may work with HSA stewards to distribute the contract booklets.
 

The employer cancelled this week's meeting due to illnesses. We expect to meet with them again shortly, and will keep you posted.

Background

Pacific Blue Cross has circulated a bulletin explaining changes which may affect the Pharmacare coverage for some members.

Please read the full memo to see if this affects you.

The changes take effect April 1. You can contact Pacific Blue Cross with any questions at 604 419-2600 or 1-888-275-4672 (toll-free).

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015

BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN

For many cancer patients, getting enough to eat is a challenge.