BC HEALTH COALITION

The BC Health Coalition has commitments from 113 municipal candidates who have each signed a pledge to protect public health care (list available for download below). As public health care defenders, the candidates have agreed to:

On November 19, 2005 British Columbians head to the polls to elect mayors, municipal councillors, school trustees, and regional district representatives.

These local representatives make decisions that affect our everyday lives, and play a critical role in making our neighbourhoods, towns, and regions places where we want to live. Local politicians also speak up for communities on important local, provincial and federal issues, and are an important voice for our communities with higher levels of government.

A coalition of BC unions says the Workers' Compensation Board can protect workers from deadly injuries and save the health care system millions by requiring the use of safety needles and other sharps.

HSA members who are running for municipal office, or working on campaigns to elect candidates for local government positions, can apply to HSA for the following financial support from HSAs Political Action Fund:

Sinclair says coordinated job action is being taken to reach a settlement

BC Federation of Labour news release

Vancouver — Officers of unions affiliated to the B.C. Federation of Labour today announced that workers will begin protesting Bill 12 on Monday in Greater Victoria if the government refuses to negotiate a settlement with the BC Teachers Federation.

Last night, teachers across the province voted overwhelmingly to take a stand against Bill 12, the Liberal act aimed at ending the limited job action undertaken by the B.C. Teachers Federation to put pressure on government to negotiate a collective agreement.

The legislation, which is still being debated in the Legislature, rolls over the current collective agreement to June 30, 2006. By then, teachers will have been working four-and-a-half years under imposed terms and conditions of employment.

HSA President Cindy Stewart joined other union leaders at a rally in Vancouver to support HEU and BCGEU members who are on strike for a first collective agreement with Sodexho. The 1,100 workers have been on strike since Sept. 15. The majority of the dietary, cleaning and other support services workers are paid $10.15 per hour.

Members encouraged to get involved in upcoming municipal and federal elections

HSA and its members have become increasingly active politically. HSA members worked on the recent provincial election in unprecedented numbers. Many of these members attended one of the three campaign schools HSA offered during the past year. Feedback from these members emphasized the value of these campaign schools in preparing members to work on election campaigns.

Direct employees of health authorities, including all HSA members, will have access to work in the event that HEU members in a first contract dispute with Sodexho erect picket lines. Each of the worksites affected has been designated locations where picketing is allowed, and access is guaranteed to ensure 100 per cent levels of service by direct employees of the health authorities.

HSA today received notice that the Hospital Employees' Union has issued 72-hour strike notice against Sodexho. The parties have been bargaining for a first collective agreement since March 11.

The earliest potential for job action is Thursday, Sept. 15. Because of orders issued by the Labour Relations Board, HSA and other union members will not be affected by picket lines, except that access to the worksite will be through designated entrances.