HSA members throughout the province who are running for office or working in upcoming municipal by-elections may apply to HSA for financial support from HSA's Political Action Fund.

Municipal, Board of Education and Regional District elections

1. Members who are candidates in a civic election may apply for up to 5 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to cover approved personal expenses incurred to run for office.

Families and advocates for children with serious mental health challenges are speaking out against a month-long closure of the child psychiatry inpatient unit at BC Children’s Hospital.

The month-long closure from July 19 to August 19 is to allow for a redesign of the treatment model used at the unit. The program is being redesigned from a 24/7 inpatient program to a Monday to Friday day program. The redesign includes reducing the number of Youth and Family Counsellors (YFCs) from the health care team working with the children aged 5 to 12 years old and their families.

THE REPORT: JULY 2013

Major corporations and their political allies in Canada are pushing for the type of "Right to Work" laws found in most of the poorest states in the US.

Such laws make it harder for workers to form a union. They also allow workers in a unionized workplace to opt out of paying dues, while still being entitled to representation by the union and the benefits of contracts negotiated by the union using dues paid by their co-workers.

THE REPORT: JULY 2013

Diligent work by an HSA steward has resulted in a cheque for several hundred dollars for at least one member. is someone you work with next?

Val Barker, chief steward for Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, discovered some of the RPNs working there were paying dues to BCNU – not HSA.

Barker first realized that administrative errors were mistakenly assigning RPNs to BCNU instead of HSA about a year ago.

"As the chief steward, nurses would come to me to ask about being in a union," says Barker.

Ottawa (21 June 2011) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is pleased to encourage all members to join with Aboriginal Peoples and Canadians across the country in celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 21.

National Aboriginal Day is marked each year on the same date to honour the achievements of Aboriginal Peoples in all areas, including the arts, language, reverence for the land and spirituality.

IF MOM CAN'T AFFORD A WHEELCHAIR,
SHOULD SHE JUST STAY IN BED?

Imagine if you or your loved one were living in a care facility and were unable to get out of your room and go down the hall to the dining room because you can't afford to buy or rent a wheelchair.

HSA members are urged to vote in the provincial election. The outcome of this election will have a profound effect on the health care and community services our members provide, as well as other public services that our families, friends and communities rely on.

Tuesday, May 14th is BC's provincial Election Day. Polls are open that day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Right to time off

HSA members are urged to vote in the provincial election. The outcome of this election will have a profound effect on the health care and community services our members provide, as well as other public services that our families, friends and communities rely on.

Eligible voters may vote on the general voting day, May 14, or may vote between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time on any of the following advance voting days:

On April 28, workers and their families are invited to pay tribute to those who have been injured or killed on the job, or stricken with occupational disease.

Every day in Canada, three workers are killed on the job and 685 workers suffer work-related injuries or occupational diseases. Last year in British Columbia, 181 workers died as a result of workplace accidents or diseases and more than 17,000 BC workers were injured.

Following a consultation process that can only be described as a sham, BC Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid – on the day before the current government dissolves – announced today the enactment of legislation that dramatically changes the structure of collective bargaining in health care, HSA President Reid Johnson said today.