This fall, HSA successfully led negotiations with the Ministry of Health to eliminate the punitive aspects of BCs new policy on mandatory flu vaccinations 
 
Click here to read bulletin on flu vaccination policy November 30
 

The multi-union community social services bargaining association is planning for a strategic escalation of job action. Job action in coming weeks will highlight the diversity and scope of crucial services that members provide, including:
 
- assistance, shelter, and counselling for women and children fleeing violence
- infant development consultation and therapy
- counselling and guidance for youth at risk
- residential and other care for developmentally challenged adults
- early childhood education, supported child development, autism intervention

The multi-union Community Health Services and Support Bargaining Association has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).

The two-year proposed agreement covers more than 14,000 workers in community health, and comes after one year of difficult negotiations. The agreement achieves members' key priorities including an across-the-board wage increase while protecting health and welfare benefits. Highlights include:

The next HSA Annual Convention will take place April 18-20, 2013 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

All HSA members are welcome to attend and speak at the convention.  However, only delegates have the right to vote.

For chapters with 49 or fewer members, the HSA chief steward is the sole delegate.  If the chief steward is not attending convention, an alternate should be identified.  Chapters with more than 49 members are entitled to one additional delegate for each additional 50 members or portion thereof.

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- was murdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on the job.

Space is still available in HSAs 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school.  This will be the last campaign school offered by HSA before the May 2013 provincial election, so members planning to work on this  election are encouraged to apply.

This workshop is designed for members with little or no experience in electoral politics, but who are interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office.  The school will focus on opportunities for involvement in the upcoming provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections. 

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocationalrehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- wasmurdered at his workplace by a former client.  His tragic death served asa sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violencein the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on thejob. 

This year, Regional Director elections will take place in Regions 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.  All HSA members in these regions are encouraged to put their name forward for these important positions.

Directors meet, on average, every six weeks and take an active leadership role in representing the union.  They receive wage replacement for the time they spend in official meetings at their own regular rate of pay.  Part-time and casual members are reimbursed as if they were at work during the meetings they attend.

Bargaining for the Community Health Services and Support sector reconvenes on Monday, January 7 in Vancouver following a break over the holidays.

Members in the sector have been in bargaining for a year. There will be no job action this week, but if an agreement cannot be reached by the end of next week, rotating strike action will recommence starting as early as January 14. Workers will be contacted through their stewards or union office if their workplace is a target for job action. Watch the website for details, and sign up at hsabc.org to get news updates.

In the largest job actions undertaken since rotating strikes began two months ago, community social services workers at more than 20 agencies rallied support for a fair deal throughout the week of December 10.

As job actions swept across the island ... from Campbell River to Parksville, Courtenay, Nanaimo, and Victoria ... striking workers from HSA, HEU, CUPE, and BCGEU were buoyed by the solidarity and support they received from trade unionists and the general public.