Space is still available in HSA's 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school for members who are interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office. The school will focus on opportunities for HSA members to be involved in the May 2017 provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections.
HSA's member professions play an incredibly important role in modern health care and community social services. But it's not an easy story to tell.
On TV, doctors and nurses are everywhere, often depicted doing the specialized work of pharmacists, lab technologists, radiation technologists, social workers, counsellors and other key professionals in health care and community social services. The public needs to know more about who we are, and what we do. That's why HSA regularly advertizes on TV, radio and on line. But it's hard to fit all these professions in a 30-second spot.
Member surveys reveal that workload and shortages continue to be the greatest workplace concern -- and HSA is taking action.
After consulting extensively with members through a series of surveys over the summer, HSA is rolling out a multi-level effort to raise public awareness and get the provincial government to take action on the dire shortage of health science professionals. These shortages continue to create unsafe levels of workload, and contribute directly to wait lists that put patients' lives on hold, or at risk.
Your elected HSA representatives and staff have been hard at work since the union's 45th convention in May. The upcoming regional meetings will be a good opportunity to provide updates on that work, and a chance for stewards and other activists to connect and discuss the issues in your region.
In preparation for those meetings, please take a few minutes to review some of the important work HSA has been involved in.
HSA members are looking ahead to the May 9, 2017 provincial election, and getting the training they need to make a real difference. Stasia Hasumi is already jumping in with both feet.
"I've been a community activist for a while, but after serving on HSA's Political Action Committee last year, I saw how important it is to help elect candidates who will fight for the things we believe in," says Hasumi. "I got involved in last fall's federal election, and am already working on next year's provincial election."
Members have told HSA that workload issues caused by shortages of key health science professionals have reached critical levels.
In a series of surveys conducted over the summer, members from across BC and a range of professions expressed concern that workload was making it difficult to deliver quality care, and leaving patients waiting too long for important procedures.
To address these concerns, HSA has launched a new province-wide ad aimed at raising public awareness of how shortages of health science professionals is impacting wait times and health care.
HSA has sent a letter of support to the US Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers, whose members are now threatened by policy changes that would allow nurses to perform their laboratory and imaging work.
"As the union representing 75 unique health science professions here in BC, we know that these professions require extensive training and unique skills," writes Val Avery, president of HSA.
The outcome of the May 2017 provincial election will have a huge impact on HSA members, and the patients and clients we serve.
"HSA is a non-partisan union, and proudly so," says HSA President Val Avery.
"But that doesn't mean we won't warn our members –or the public – about dangerous, short-sighted policies proposed by governments of any stripe."
That's why HSA members may apply for support from HSA's Political Action Fund to work on election campaigns, attend election campaign training, or even run for political office.
Over the past 5 years, the BCNU leadership has taken an aggressive and adversarial approach that undermines the autonomy and professional integrity of HSA members in their workplaces and in their union. These actions have resulted in the expulsion of BCNU from the BC Federation of Labour, Canadian Labour Congress and other progressive bodies across Canada.
