The Report: June 2012 vol.33 num.2

HSA AND ITS PHARMACIST MEMBERS have forced the government to back down on a plan to slash salaries for pharmacists by up to 14 per cent.

The plan, announced without warning in January, would have eliminated a market adjustment for pharmacists introduced in 2006 to address chronic issues of recruitment and retention.

HSA immediately met with representatives of the pharmacist members and on January 18 invited all pharmacist members to participate in a province-wide telephone town hall meeting.

The Report: June 2012 vol.33 num.2

HSA WORKS TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE WORK YOU DO. Thats one of the most important objectives of your union. Its a long-term plan members have asked us to invest in through the advertising campaigns we do every year, and these campaigns are already making a difference.

WHAT IS THE HSA CONTRACT?

Collective agreements that govern the working conditions and compensation for HSA members working in the public sector expired on March 31, 2011. The union is working now on behalf of HSA members to negotiate new collective agreements.

Until new collective agreements are reached, the terms and conditions of the expired agreements continue.

In the public health care and social services sectors, HSA represents members covered by four collective agreements.

http://www.nupge.ca/content/4967/women-4-change-training-session-huge-success-ottawa

Long-time HSA activist Rachel Tutte has been nominated for a Women of Distinction Award in the Metro Vancouver YWCAs 2012 awards competition.  Recognized nationally as one of Canadas most prestigious awards for women, the Women of Distinction Awards honour women whose outstanding achievements contribute to the well-being and future of our community.

The Health Sciences Association of BC  has joined more than 180 organizations in endorsing the Canadian Health Coalitions -Call to Care", to secure the future of Medicare.  The CHC statement outlines a vision and a list of principles to build a better public health care system that works for everyone.  

The federal government has recently announced that it intends to cut funding to the provinces for health care, and to abdicate its responsibility to ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act are upheld across the country.  

During April, the Not Myself Today campaign intends to mobilize all Canadians in a movement to transform the way we think about, act towards and support mental health.

Ottawa (10 April 2012) ... The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining a broad range of organizations to support the Not Myself Today campaign initiated by the newly-formed Partners for Mental Health. On hand for the campaign launch was NUPGE National President James Clancy and Vice-President (Ontario) Nancy Pridham.

Q:  Im scheduled to work July 1, and not on July 2.  However, my employer says that I will not be getting paid at the -statutory holiday" rate for work on July 1.  Is this right?

A:  This year, July 1 falls on a Sunday.  According to the federal Holidays Act, this means the legal statutory holiday is July 2.  For 2012, members working July 2 will receive stat pay ... not those working July 1.

The federal budget will increase income inequality, decrease the quality of life for Canadians and slow economic recovery.

Ottawa (29 March 2012) - The Harper government's budget fails the Fairness Test [1]because it will increase income inequality and make life harder for vulnerable Canadians, said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

OTTAWA ... The President of the Canadian Labour Congress says the federal budget tabled on March 29 has failed Canadians by destroying valuable public services and jobs and attacking pensions.   

-The government could have used this budget to help struggling middle class and working Canadians," Georgetti says, -but it chose to not to do so."