It took a bit of prodding at yesterdays opening session of contract talks for 13,000 community health workers, including 600 HSA members, but health employers have agreed to exchange most contract proposals when bargaining resumes today in Burnaby.
Employers are choking off pay rates above what the collective agreement says and firing up the rumour mill as community social services contract talks are set to begin.
Community social service workers say wages, benefits and strengthening resources for social services top their demands for a new contract.
-We are serious about reaching an agreement that addresses all the issues, and hope that the employers are serious about wanting to reach a settlement," said Chris Mullen, Chief Spokesperson for the Union Bargaining Association (UBA).
In the lead up to provincial bargaining, policy discussions have begun with representatives from all health authorities plus Providence Health Care, Ministry of Health, Health Employers' Association of BC and the Nurses Bargaining Association (BC Nurses Union, Health Sciences Association and Union of Psychiatric Nurses). Participants include BCNU Council members representing nurses in each Health Authority and Providence as well as representation of HSA and UPN.
On January 23, HSA members will head to the polls to elect a new federal government. The Members of Parliament we elect can have a huge impact on the health care and community social services that HSA members provide. HSA urges members to examine the positions of the parties on these issues, and to vote for candidates who will support public health care and community social services.
General voting day: Monday, January 23
Labour Arbitrator Donald Munroe has ruled that regular part-time employees covered by the Paramedical Professional collective agreement in the Interior Health Authority (IHA) are entitled to sick leave for shifts scheduled outside their regular part-time schedule.
HSA filed a grievance in February 2005 after the IHA issued a directive saying regular part time employees who missed shifts outside their regular schedule were not entitled to sick leave benefits for those additional shifts.
The HSA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Maureen Headley as Executive Director ... Legal.
Headley will oversee services to members, including Labour Relations Board and arbitration matters, Workers' Compensation Board claims, Occupational Health and Safety issues, Long Term Disability claims and Classifications matters.
Headley has been a union-side labour lawyer in private practice for the past 13 years. She is also a recognized harassment investigator.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
A reminder that Regions 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 are holding elections for Regional Director. All HSA members in these regions are encouraged to put their names forward for nomination.
HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. We will be awarding ten scholarships for full-time studies; ten bursaries for full-time studies; five bursaries for part-time studies and two aboriginal scholarships.
The criteria and details are set out on the application forms. To obtain a copy please download the applications below or contact your chief steward who will have a copy of these forms.
In the last federal election, more than a third of Canadians eligible to vote didn't. It was the worst voter turnout in Canada's history. HSA urges members to help reverse this trend. Your vote does make a difference - and the Members of Parliament you elect can have a huge impact on the health care and community social services that HSA members provide.
Three days of advance voting will be held throughout BC, to help ensure voters can get to the polls:
