HSA members covered by the Community Social Services Bargaining Association collective agreement held a bargaining proposal conference last week to discuss priorities for the upcoming negotiations. The current collective agreement expires March 31, 2006.

Pat Jacklin, an HSA member at Comox Valley Transition Society, was elected to join Labour Relations Officer Josef Rieder as HSA's representatives on the Community Social Services Bargaining Association of Unions (CSSBA).

Also elected to the HSA bargaining advisory committee were:

HSA President Cindy Stewart has written to Premier Gordon Campbell calling on the government to apply the same factors and considerations that led to a 15 per cent wage increase for MLAs to the governments preparations for setting a wage mandate for other public sector workers, including the health care and community social services workers represented by HSA.

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.

The BC Federation of Labour offers two scholarships for attendance at the 2006 CLC Winter School:

One of Canada's best labour schools, held at Harrison Hot Springs, in January and February 2006

With the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association contract set to expire March 31, 2006, planning is underway to prepare HSA's priorities to present at the bargaining table. Delegates to the January 23 to 25, 2006 Bargaining Proposal Conference will set the bargaining priorities based on proposals submitted by HSA members at local chapter meetings. Delegates from each region were elected as representatives to the conference at regional meetings held throughout the fall.

The Bargaining Proposal Conference for members covered by the Community Social Services collective agreement has been re-scheduled from Wednesday, November 16, 2005 to Thursday, November 24, 2005. The conference will be held in Burnaby, location to be announced.

In order to prepare for the Bargaining Proposal Conference, you must hold a Chapter meeting to identify bargaining issues and to elect your delegate(s) to the conference.

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:

HSA offered three one-day workshops this fall:

As you know, all workers have a right to a safe work environment. Surveys consistently indicate that HSA members care about and are willing to become involved in health and safety issues. Unions have a significant role to play ensuring that our workplaces are safe. HSA takes a leadership role in the promotion of workplace safety through health and safety education initiatives for our membership, such as the Prevention of Workplace Violence Workshop.