The 2012-2014 HSPBA collective agreement includes a new $225,000 Professional Development Fund for use by all HSPBA members, including HSA members, over the term of the collective agreement.

To maximize the number of members eligible to apply for the funding, there will be two deadlines: One for courses commenced between April 1, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and another for courses commenced between October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014.

HSA invites women in our union to join us to celebrate International Womens Day.  Building on last year's success, HSA will be holding a two day workshop to celebrate International Women's Day, and learn about Women For Change on March 7 and 8, 2013 at the HSA office.

Through this workshop, HSA is providing the opportunity for members to combine IWD events and in-house HSA training.

Space is still available in HSAs 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school.  This will be the last campaign school offered by HSA before the May 2013 provincial election, so members planning to work on this  election are encouraged to apply.

This workshop is designed for members with little or no experience in electoral politics, but who are interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office.  The school will focus on opportunities for involvement in the upcoming provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections. 

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocationalrehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- wasmurdered at his workplace by a former client.  His tragic death served asa sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violencein the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on thejob. 

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children.  Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies.  Two aboriginal scholarships will be awarded to aboriginal students in BC.

The criteria and details are set out on the application forms (below).

Completed application forms and transcripts must be emailed to the HSA office no later than Friday, February 28, 2013.

HSA members throughout the province who are running for office or working in the upcoming provincial election may apply to HSA for financial support from HSA's Political Action Fund.

1. Members who are candidates may apply for up to 30 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to cover approved personal expenses incurred to run for office.

2. Members who are working on an election campaign may apply for up to 30 days of wage replacement, but must confirm that they are donating at least 20 hours of their own unpaid time to work on the campaign.

Members may apply for Political Action Fund support to attend election campaign training which is:

a) non-partisan (e.g., the Canadian Women Voters Congress Women's Campaign School); or
b) offered by labour organizations with which HSA is affiliated (e.g., the BC Federation of Labour, the Canadian Labour Congress, labour councils etc); or
c) offered by political parties that meet all of HSA's 4 criteria, by demonstrating support for the following:

Due to the large number of members who have expressed an interest in getting involved in the upcoming provincial election, HSA is holding another 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school.

This workshop is designed for HSA members with little or no experience in electoral politics, but who are interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office. The school will focus on opportunities for involvement in the May 2013 provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections.

HSA is holding a 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school for members interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office.  The school will focus on opportunities for HSA members to be involved in the May 2013 provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections. 

If you want to help elect representatives who will support public health care and community social services, or are considering running for elected office, then this campaign school is for you!

A College for Workers - A Legacy of Leadership

2013 Intensive Program Dates:

First Session:  May 4-18, 2013
Second Session:  August 11-23, 2013

Application Deadline:  November 5, 2012

For more information, please click here.