HSA will be represented by 38 delegates to the 50th annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour November 27 to December 1.

This year's theme: "A proud history. A strong future." celebrates the B.C. Federation's 50th Anniversary. Highlights will include discussion of the future of BC's resource communities, resolutions regarding the growing exploitation of temporary international workers, and reports on the future of organizing and how we grow our movement.

HSA and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) have reached an agreement that will see HSA dietitians reimbursed an estimated $100,000 for membership fees paid to Dietitians of Canada since 2003/04.

The settlement is a result of a grievance launched in 2004, when the union pursued member concerns that the employer required membership in good standing in the professional association as a condition of employment, and that individuals must be personally responsible for paying the $150 to $450 annual base membership fee.

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival Sciety presents Strike Up The Band, a celebration of the labour movement, November 30 at the Orpheum. The event is a musical celebration in dance and song of the labour movement and its struggles, and showcases a range of B.C. talent. Emcee'd by Joe Keithley, the evening will feature appearances by Jim Byrnes, Allison Russell, Linda Tillery, the Universal Gospel Choir, Tons of Fun University, and the Union All Star Band.

Once again, the Provincial Health Officer has issued a copy of the Facility Influenza Immunization Policy to all health employers in BC. The policy states:

As a critical component of patient care, all facilities are required to adopt a written policy advocating staff influenza immunization. Staff who choose not to be immunized must be made aware that they can be excluded from work in the event of an influenza outbreak within their facility.

Speakers from the Council of Canadians and BC Health Coalition will explore issues of:

- upgrading TWO hospitals
- curtailing regionalization
- keeping hospitals public, not private
- what a real "conversation on health" entails

Date:  Thursday, November 16
Time:  7:00 p.m.
Place:  Florence Filberg Centre - Rotary Room
          411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay

Come and share your views.  FREE ADMISSION; EVERYONE WELCOME.

The push to locate a new hospital between Courtenay and Campbell River is an example of the privatization of health care, warns one of the guest speakers on the panel lined up for a November 16 Town Hall meeting at the Florence Filberg Centre.

Contrary to the Chicken Little sky-is-falling scenario painted by Finance Minister Carole Taylor, an economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says in a study published today that British Columbia's health care system is sustainable.

The study finds that population aging is only a small contributor to pressures on the health care budget, and that the system can be maintained and enhanced without breaking the bank.

The provincial government should reverse its plan to exclude health care providers from the 16 regional public forums that are the centerpiece of the $10-million -Conversation on Health."

Health union leaders told Health Minister George Abbott today that the governments plan to declare more than 100,000 British Columbians who are health care providers as ineligible to participate in the public meetings will deepen public skepticism of the consultation process.

Come to your community's town hall.  Join doctors, health care specialists and social movement leaders as we push for innovation and improvement within the public system.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The ANZA Club: 3 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
(Ontario Street & one block north of Broadway)

Click here for additional information.

Thursday, November 2 at the Oakridge Branch of the Vancouver Public Library, health care services will be the focus of a library-sponsored discussion.

Health care services are essential to our well being at every stage of our
life. Is universal health care important? What constitutes universal
health care? Can it be better provided through a single government-controlled model, a totally privatized model or a mix? What is the
experience in other countries? How does Canadas health care system
compare to others?