More than 600 delegates gathered on May 3 and 4 in the birthplace of the nation's Medicare system -- Regina, Saskatchewan -- to unite behind Tommy Douglas' vision for public health care.

The conference S.O.S. Medicare 2: Looking Forward, brought together a stunning array of leading health care thinkers, providers, and activists in Canada, the U.S., and abroad. Delegates included academics, community activists, seniors, and students.

Would UK-style changes to our health care system benefit patients?  Or corporations?

PUBLIC HEALTH FOURUM - FRIENDS OF MEDICARE - JOIN US!

Thursday, May 17
7pm - 9pm
Croatian Cultural Centre
3250 Commercial Drive, Auditorium 2

Featuring:

Jacky Davis, London doctor and founding member of Keep NHS Public
Will McMartin, Political commentator & contributor to The Tyee

(Vancouver) Surgical waitlists can be dramatically cut if the BC government takes leadership by scaling up innovative projects already underway in the public system, a new study says.

Why Wait? Public Solutions to Cure Surgical Waitlists, released today by the CCPA and the BC Health Coalition, is a submission to the BC government's 'conversation on health.' The study looks at five groundbreaking projects in BC, and successful initiatives in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

The final version of the 2006-2010 Collective Agreement between the Nurses Bargaining Association and the Health Employers Association of B.C. has been delivered to employers throughout the province for distribution.

Employers have accepted responsibility for distribution of the contract to members.

If you have not yet received a copy of your collective agreement, please be in touch with your facilitys human resources department.

HSA offers scholarships for Summer Institute for Union Women
-Strong Women Taking Action"

July 4 - 8, 2007 ... Victoria

The BC Summer Institute for Union Women offers an intensive week of learning within a supportive environment where union women can develop skills as workers, activists and leaders.

Would UK-style changes to our health care system benefit patients?  Or corporations?

Public health care forum:

Tuesday, May 15
7pm - 9pm
THOMPSON RIVER UNIVERSITY ALUMNI THEATRE
Clock Tower Building, Kamloops

For more information and a printer-friendly version of the poster, click here.

Bargaining for a collective agreement between HSA and CML Healthcare on Vancouver Island has been put on hold as the Labour Relations Board deliberates an application by HSA to include CML employees at Lower Mainland locations in the Vancouver Island bargaining unit.

In January, HSA made an application to include Lower Mainland CML Healthcare employees in the existing Vancouver Island HSA bargaining unit. CML has opposed the application, arguing that Island and Lower Mainland employees should not be allowed to bargain together for improvements to wages and working conditions.

Members of the BC Federation of Labour's Occupational Health and Safety Committee headed to Victoria Monday, April 30 to press the case for better workplace safety enforcement and decent pensions for workers injured on the job.

The lobby, headed by Federation President Jim Sinclair and Secretary-Treasurer Angela Schira, comes on the heels of Day of Mourning ceremonies across BC that marked the beginning of a month of labour action to win safer workplaces.

HSA President Reid Johnson and Region 7 Regional Director Marg Beddis joined in the Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job by laying a wreath at Bear Creek Park in Surrey Saturday. New Westminster & District Labour Council in conjunction with the Vancouver & District Labour Council, Fraser Valley Labour Council and BC Federation of Labour  hosted the event.

Concerned about health and safety issues at your workplace?

Sign up to receive the OHSAH (Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in BC) e-update.

The current (April 2007) issues includes articles about Latex vs Non-Latex Gloves; Concern over Caviwipes,   Pandemic Influenza Update, Technological Innovations in Occupational Health, and Day of Mourning events.