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.

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Thursday saw the largest strike action undertaken by Community Social Services workers since they began rotating job actions almost two months ago.

Workers from thirteen agencies are off the job December 13, sending a strong message to government: stop putting vulnerable families last, and provide the resources needed to improve wages and working conditions.

A multi-union event took place from 10 am - 2 pm on Douglas Street at Centennial Square, where members served hot food and distributed warm clothing. Supporters joined them at noon.

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children.  Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies.  Two aboriginal scholarships will be awarded to aboriginal students in BC.

The criteria and details are set out on the application forms (below).

Completed application forms and transcripts must be emailed to the HSA office no later than Friday, February 28, 2013.

HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2013 HSA Convention, to be held April 18 - 20, 2013 at the Fairmont Hotel (Vancouver Hotel) in Vancouver.

Annual convention is the union's annual meeting where chapter representatives from around the province determine the union's future direction. Policies, actions, constitutional amendments, and structural changes are all discussed and debated at convention.

HSA members throughout the province who are running for office or working in the upcoming provincial election may apply to HSA for financial support from HSA's Political Action Fund.

1. Members who are candidates may apply for up to 30 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to cover approved personal expenses incurred to run for office.

2. Members who are working on an election campaign may apply for up to 30 days of wage replacement, but must confirm that they are donating at least 20 hours of their own unpaid time to work on the campaign.

Members may apply for Political Action Fund support to attend election campaign training which is:

a) non-partisan (e.g., the Canadian Women Voters Congress Women's Campaign School); or
b) offered by labour organizations with which HSA is affiliated (e.g., the BC Federation of Labour, the Canadian Labour Congress, labour councils etc); or
c) offered by political parties that meet all of HSA's 4 criteria, by demonstrating support for the following:

Due to the large number of members who have expressed an interest in getting involved in the upcoming provincial election, HSA is holding another 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school.

This workshop is designed for HSA 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 May 2013 provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections.

HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2013 HSA Convention, to be held April 18 - 20, 2013 at the Fairmont Hotel (Vancouver Hotel) in Vancouver.

Annual convention is the union's annual meeting where chapter representatives from around the province determine the union's future direction. Policies, actions, constitutional amendments, and structural changes are all discussed and debated at convention.

For immediate release:  December 7, 2012
 
Caring professionals from not-for-profit agencies that support vulnerable families on the North Island will be on strike Monday, December 10.

Community workers want to send a clear message to the B.C. government: stop putting vulnerable families last!

Since 2004, the B.C. Liberal government has cut $300 million in funding for programs that support vulnerable families, the developmentally disabled, at-risk youth, and children and infants in community-based programs across the province.