The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) and the B.C. Federation of Labour today announced they will be holding a Rally at the BC Legislature next week.

-Teachers are tremendously heartened by the solidarity and support we have felt coming from union members all across BC," said BCTF President Susan Lambert.

-People understand that Bill 22 threatens the quality of public education for their children and grandchildren. Its just the latest example of this governments assault on all public services in BC."

The B.C. Federation of Labour will hold a candlelight vigil in memory of three farmworkers who were killed in an overloaded and unsafe van in 2007.

• Date: Sunday, March 4, 2012
• Time: 3:00 pm
• Location: Abbotsford Civic Plaza
  32315 South Fraser Way
  Abbotsford, BC

Sarbjit Kaur Sidhu, Amarjit Bal and Sukhvinder Kaur Punia were killed on the morning of March 7, 2007 when the unsafe and overloaded labour contractor van in which they were travelling crashed on Highway 1 near Abbotsford.

As therapists, counsellors, youth workers, and in many other professions, HSA members regularly work at schools across BC.

The BC Liberal government still has the ability to prevent a crisis in our public education system; withdraw Bill 22 and return to the bargaining table without condition and with the help of a professional mediator.

See full statement from BC Federation of Labour officers.

HSA and Interior Health Authority (IHA) have arrived at a Labour Adjustment Plan that reduces the negative impact on members caused by the IHAs wholesale restructuring of lab services.

Under the restructured system, 52 members will be affected. There are 58 positions available for those members.

HSA President Reid Johnson, in Victoria today for the unveiling of the 2012 provincial budget, said the Liberal government ‘s budget plan has failed to address the needs of British Columbians.

-Instead of trying to kick-start the provinces economy with tax credits for a few wealthy first-time homebuyers and promises of less red tape for business, the BC government should have used Budget Day 2012 to come up with real solutions to growing challenges British Columbians face in their everyday lives," Johnson said.

HSPBA, the union bargaining association that represents physiotherapists and occupational therapists delivering crucial patient services at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority hospitals and agencies, is speaking out against a proposed restructuring that threatens to affect the quality of services delivered to patients.

The Report: February 2012 vol.33 num.1

Collective agreements covering the vast majority of HSA members working in health sciences and community social services expire on March 31, and HSAs negotiators have already begun work on the next agreements.

HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS

Bargaining for the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association was scheduled to begin February 27.

HSA priorities for bargaining were set at a three-day bargaining proposal conference in November.