The municipal Pension Plan continues to offer pension seminars to plan members.

Plan members have a choice of two seminars.  Your Pension, Your Future is for new and mid-career plan members. In this seminar, they'll explain pension benefits and help members understand how decisions they make today can impact their future pension income. Members will learn how to read their Member's Benefit Statement and find out how they can recover time from a break in service (such as general, maternity and parental leaves) to make the most of their future pension.

The various Health Authorities in the Lower Mainland (VCHA, PHSA, FHA and PHC) today issued a press release dealing with "Lower Mainland Consolidation Opportunities".  The Union was only given the information, at a meeting with various Health Authorities, immediately before the press release was made public. The Union has not yet been provided any specific information in regards any potential impact of "consolidation" on the members of the Union.  

This years annual Run for the Cure, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's most important fundraiser, is Sunday October 4.

HSA has supported the run since 1997, and is one of three regional sponsors of the Run for the Cure. At every step from diagnosis to treatment and recovery, highly trained health science professionals use their expertise to help breast cancer patients.

The union urges HSA members and others to join the HSA team to run or walk for the cure October 4.

The B.C. Federation of Labour Young Worker Retreat is planned for September 25 to 27 at Camp Jubilee.

Participants at last year's retreat for 19- to 30-year-old union members enjoyed the opportunity to meet other newcomers and activists to the union movement, and the retreat is expected to fill up quickly.

Follow the link for information about registration and retreat activities.

Taking a tough stand on health care budgets will hurt British Columbia at a time it wants to shine, says Reid Johnson, president of the Health Sciences Association, the union that represents 16,000 health science professionals who provide the diagnostic, clinical, and rehabilitation services British Columbians count on for your good health.

Just last week, Health Minister Kevin Falcon was singing the praises of the fast-tracked breast cancer diagnosis clinics in the Lower Mainland as a key to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

BCs Minister of Health Kevin Falcon faces immediate challenges in his new job, says Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of BC.

 -Just this week, it was revealed that health authorities are facing financial pressures that could result in reduced services and increased user fees for British Columbians. In a growing province and where were seeing increasing acuity in the patients in the health care system, we need a focus on improving access to health care services ... not reducing access," he said.

You are invited to a Nanaimo town hall meeting June 11 as part of a national campaign to allow Canadians from all walks of life input into the discussion about the current economic crisis and to ensure that
governments find solutions that work for all Canadians.

The -experts" had their chance. We tried it their way: it didnt work, and now its our turn.

At a national conference this weekend, the Canadian Association of Labour Media awarded its highest honour to The Report, the magazine for HSA members.

The Report won "Best Overall Publication" demonstrating the best combined use of writing, graphics, design, and editorial content and judgement.  The category includes all local, provincial, and national union publications produced by staff, including federations of labour across Canada

Tuesday, May 12 is BCs provincial Election Day.  Polls are open that day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time).  All HSA members are urged to vote in this critical election. 

Right to time off

Section 74 of BCs Election Act states that any employee who is entitled to vote is entitled to have four consecutive hours free from employment during voting hours on General Voting Day for the purpose of voting. 

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 12, or may vote on any of the following advance voting days: