As negotiations for the new collective agreement continue, talks are heating up between the Community Social Services Bargaining Association and representatives of the employers’ association.

This week, the Committee countered the employers’ wages and compensation offer. The Committee has heard loud and clear from members across the community social services sector that protection against the rising cost of living is a key priority.

What are you doing to help fight climate change?

HSA is challenging you to show how you and your coworkers are making a difference in the climate crisis. Entering the Climate Challenge is fast, easy, and encourages others to create change as well. You’ll also have a chance to win a prize!

To enter the challenge

Since pausing negotiations in June, six working groups made up of representatives from the union and employer side have been working to develop recommendations around new certifications, occupational health and safety, decolonizing the collective agreement and more. This work will now help streamline the bargaining process as the committee heads back to the table on September 12.
 

This Labour Day, I wanted to take a few moments to share with you 3 things I’m thinking about as I reflect on our current moment.

First, that I am so deeply grateful for you, each and every HSA member working as a health science or community social services professional. In what has been the most difficult time in decades, you’ve been brave, you’ve endured, and you’ve risen to every challenge that’s come our way.

Get involved on your HSA steward team
 

Elections will be held in many HSA chapters this fall and winter to select members to fill the following HSA positions for the coming year:

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with Northern Health Authority? If so, consider applying to be an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative.

HSPBA negotiations, led by HSA and conducted by professional negotiators, subject experts on labour relations issues, and members elected by their colleagues to bring front-line perspectives, were busy over the summer working through discussions at small group tables to address issues of health and safety. The resumption of full negotiations returns the focus of discussions to wider issues, including wage proposals which seek to compensate for the current inflationary pressures on members.

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with Vancouver Coastal Health? If so, consider applying to be an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative.

On August 22, 2022, a new section of the Occupational Health and Safety regulation related to the refusal of unsafe work will take effect. Workers have the right to refuse work when they have reasonable cause to believe it is unsafe. The new provisions make it harder for employers to reassign that potentially unsafe work to someone else.

This is a long overdue and very important change that the labour movement has advocated for. It reinforces a worker’s right to know and increases the protections for workers in the workplace.

Your community social services bargaining committee is preparing to head back to the table to negotiate a fair collective agreement that meets your needs and reflects your worth.