Talks broke down yesterday between the provincial government, employers and the ten unions representing BC's 15,000 community social services workers. As a result, there will be a strike vote for all unionized workers in the sector.

Outstanding issues include: wages, benefits, sick leave, reimbursable expenses and concessionary demands by the employer, including revisiting improvements gained in the last round of bargaining. 

The Report: June 2012 vol.33 num.2

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER ADRIAN DIX told HSA delegates his party is committed to building a stronger provincial health care system in order to build prosperity in British Columbia.

-We have to respond to the challenges of the public health care system in the 21st century thats under attack from Ottawa and under attack from private interest and this current government in our province," said Dix to a ballroom of several hundred HSA delegates from across B.C.

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.