Through the union's Committee for Equality and Social Action, HSA is supporting the "We Can" campaign to end violence against women. The campaign kicks off in Vancouver with a dinner November 25 featuring guest speakers Mona Mehta of Oxfam Great Britain, Sandra Moran, of Guatemala's Women's Sector of the Civil Society, and Robert Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada.

HSA has a limited number of free tickets for this dinner available. If you would like tickets, please send an email to: pbush@hsabc.org.

Ottawa (19 Nov. 2008) ... Health professionals are calling todays speech from the throne a -huge disappointment" because it failed to address important issues facing Canadas health-care system. 

"Its clear from this throne speech that the Harper government doesnt view health care as a top priority and in fact seems to suggest the job is pretty much done," says Elisabeth Ballermann, Co-Chair of the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS). 

The BC Health Coalition is urging citizens to take action to protectand expand public health care in their communities during NationalMedicare Week, November 17-22.

-Ongoing violations of the Canada Health Act (CHA),such as private clinics extra-billing and costly membership fees, area threat to Canadians health and their pocketbooks," says Joyce Jones,Community Co-Chair of the Coalition.

During National Medicare Week the National Union is urging governments to look to the public system to deliver solutions to wait-time issues and health care shortages.

Ottawa (17 Nov. 2008) - The Canadian Health Coalition and health coalitions across the country are marking November 17-22 as National Medicare Week. The National Union of Public and General Employees is supporting the week and calling for governments to make a greater commitment to publicly funded, delivered and administered health care.

Get Your Flu Shot!

Flu season is fast approaching! In Canada, epidemics of influenza usually start during the late fall and last right through to early spring. Annual vaccination is highly recommended for all healthcare workers, particularly those who work with people who are at high risk for medical complications from influenza or more likely to require medical care (e.g. children under six months of age, persons aged 65 years or older.) For healthy adults under 65 years of age, the flu vaccine has proven 70% - 90% effective.

On Saturday November 15, 2008 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. 

Obama's election provides an opportunity for progressive labour law reform in the U.S.

Washington (10 Nov. 2008) - The election of Barack Obama as president is one of the few moments in recent years that organized labour in the United States has had something to cheer about.

Obama has promised to sign the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) if passed by the new Congress following his inauguration in January. The EFCA was introduced but not passed in the last Congress.

The BC Health Coalition has commitments from 81 municipal candidates who have each signed a pledge to protect public health care. As public health care defenders, the candidates have agreed to:

All HSA members at St. Pauls Hospital are invited to a meeting. Guest speakers include HSA President Reid Johnson and Rachel Tutte, your representative on HSAs Board of Directors. This will be an opportunity to hear about what HSA is doing on your behalf, and to elect stewards to represent you at work.

Wednesday, November 26
Time: noon to 1:30pm
Hurlburt Auditorium, Providence Level 2

Lunch will be provided

Reducing the need for higher intensity and for more costly services

Vancouver (4 Nov. 2008) - The latest report by B.C. Auditor General John Doyle provides a list of recommendations to improve planning for home and community care programs.

"Ministry of Health Services is not adequately fulfilling its stewardship role in helping to ensure that the home and community care system has the capacity to meet the needs of the population," the report says.