A message from HSA President Kane Tse

Labour Day is usually a time spent reflecting on the past. We remember the contributions of working people, celebrate the many victories, and remind ourselves and the world of the importance of collective action.

But this has been a very different year. We don’t have to recall the distant past to see the remarkable commitment of working people in BC. We’re seeing history being made, all around us, in real time.

All HSA members covered by the Health Science Professionals, Community Health, Community Social Services and Nurses Bargaining Associations are now entitled to a statutory holiday held annually on September 30.
 
This date marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a moment to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada. The establishment of the national holiday is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, and was instituted by the federal government with legislation that passed in June.
 

BC’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, today announced a new public health order for mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment for all employees working in long-term care or assisted living facilities.

This new public health order will impact HSA members working in these settings.

Health Sciences Association of BC has contracted Viewpoints Research to conduct an on line survey to explore members' priorities and concerns as your union begins negotiations for your next contract. Viewpoints Research an industry leader with 30 years of experience conducting research for unions and other progressive organizations. Using an experienced third-party professional research firm for this membership survey ensures confidentiality and the highest quality of data.

SHOULD YOU BE RECEIVING WWGS PAY?

And what is WWGS pay anyway?

Effective the first pay period after April 1, 2021, changes to classifications in the Health Science Professionals collective agreement provided increased pay for certain HSA members in more than 30 different health science professions when they work without general supervision (WWGS).
 
The professions with new WWGS classifications are:

Funding can be applied to training between April 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022

Health Science Professional Bargaining Association members of Health Sciences Association are invited to apply for financial support from a new $3 million fund announced in June.

The funding, provided by the BC Ministry of Health, is intended to support health science professionals looking to maintain and upgrade specialized training.

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with the Fraser Health Authority? If so, consider putting in an application for an appointment as an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative. 
 

Working in partnership with the government of British Columbia, Health Sciences Association of BC has secured $3 million in new funding to support professional development for members covered by the Health Sciences Professional Bargaining Association collective agreement. The funding, provided by the BC Ministry of Health, will allow members to pursue further specialization of skills in key professions.

Applications are now being accepted for funding to support HSA members who work under the Health Science Professionals Collective Agreement (HSPBA) and who are pursuing professional development. The continued funding was negotiated in the 2019-2022 collective agreement, with a $400,000 contribution to the fund each year.
 
“I encourage members to apply to this fund to support their professional development, as I know that HSA members are committed to keeping their skills and knowledge current in an ever-advancing modern health care team,” said HSA President Val Avery.

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with the Vancouver Island Health Authority? If so, consider putting in an application for an appointment as an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative.