All Health Sciences Association members who work in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and are covered by the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association and Nurses Bargaining Association collective agreements will benefit from agreements reached to develop single seniority lists for each of the bargaining associations.
Subject: HSA Reacts to Government Announcement on Health Workers
The Health Sciences Association says today's government announcement that it will expand a program to track health and safety incidents is not enough to ensure health care workers are safe in their workplaces.
"Today's announcement to complete a system to track health and safety incidents by computer is a fine project, but it does nothing to immediately reduce the incidence of injury and occupational disease for health care workers," HSA President Cindy Stewart said.
HSA members have reacted with shock to this week's violent and deadly attack on HSA member David Bland, a recreation therapist with the Richmond Mental Services Health Team.
"On behalf of HSA, I extend condolences to David's family, friends and co-workers. Words cannot express the sorrow we all are feeling at losing a member of our team, particularly under such violent circumstances," HSA President Cindy Stewart said.
Information meetings for HSA members about discussions between the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority on a single seniority list have been scheduled as follows:
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association have begun discussions aimed at achieving a single seniority list for all employees in the health authority, which would come into effect in early 2006.
HSA - VCHA (Joint Bulletin)
HSA and VCHA are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached on a without prejudice basis, for a number of measures designed to mitigate the impact of laboratory restructuring. Restructuring will occur in the laboratories at Lions Gate Hospital, Richmond Hospital, Vancouver Hospital - 12th and Oak Pavilions, and Vancouver Hospital - UBC Pavilions.
HSA is offering two 2-day basic OH&S steward workshops on:
Workshop 1: January 31st and February 1st, 2005
Workshop 2: February 28th and March 1st, 2005
All HSA members covered by the paramedical professional collective agreement are encouraged to submit any unclaimed receipts for extended healthcare benefits incurred by members or dependents between May 5 and December 31, 2003 to Pacific Blue Cross no later than November 15, 2004 in order to receive reimbursement. The deadline has been extended one month to November 15 because of administrative delays.
