On Tuesday, the union bargaining committee for community social services workers met with the employers group to discuss proposals tabled in May.

The Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA) tabled a concessionary package offering no monetary gains.

Josef Rieder represents HSA at the bargaining table, with HSA bargaining team chair Lynn Kelsey. -CSSEA says the Liberal government is forcing them to stick to a ‘zero mandate, and is not able to offer any gains for our members," Rieder said.

This June marks the 75th anniversary of the On to Ottawa Trek, when 1,000 young unemployed men climbed atop railway boxcars to take their plea for work and wages to the federal government.

In 1935, unemployed workers were being forced into relief camps, and made to perform labour under military-style discipline -- for 20 cents a day. When workers finally organized a walkout to protest conditions, then-Vancouver mayor Gerry McGreer directed city police to beat the protestors. Two months later, the young protestors decided to take their message to Ottawa.

The Vancouver and District Labour Council women's committee presents a panel discussion on economic justice for women Wednesday June 2.

The panel will feature Adrienne Montani from First Call and the Living Wage Campaign, Jocelyn Vergabera from the Phillipine Women's Centre, and a representative from UNITE HERE Local 40.

The panel will be held as follows:

Wednesday, June 2
7 - 9 p.m.
Boardroom 1
Maritime Labour Centre
111 Victoria Drive, Vancouver

The union bargaining committee for community social services workers met with the employers group this week in Richmond.

The union bargaining committee tabled a comprehensive package of proposals aimed at making gains and restoring rights after years of cuts and concessions. Among other demands, the committee is seeking better sick leave provisions and wage parity with the community health sector.

The Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA) tabled its own concessionary package offering no monetary gains.

Two days of discussions about a new contract for health science professionals wound up Wednesday afternoon with some progress on non monetary issues related to protecting quality health care. The union bargaining association (Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association) tabled contract language related to whistle-blower protection for health care professionals who speak up about illegal practices at work which put the care of patients or the safety of employees at risk.
 

Attached please find an information poster regarding an event being held to meet and hear Honduran partner, Maria Luisa Regalado of the Honduran Womens Collective speak about their work supporting the rights of women workers in Honduras and their participation in the resistance movement in Honduras.

The HSA Committee on Equality and Social Action supports CoDevelopment Canada, which is sponsoring this event on June 14, 2010, and encourages you to attend.

Please post this information on your union notice board.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) is urging the employer group, the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA), to commence bargaining on Thursday, May 13, 2010 in Richmond.

The CSSBA expects the first meeting will entail establishing a protocol agreement and setting dates and locations for a full exchange of proposals for the Community Living Services and General Services collective agreements.

Last November, rehabilitation therapists in the Fraser Health Authority were alarmed by the health authoritys announced plans to -partner" with private vendors to provide post-surgical physiotherapy.

However, the FHA has recently abandoned those plans.

HSA members working throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley received notice last month of a region-wide plan to consolidate diagnostic imaging services in the Lower Mainland.

An important meeting to discuss how the consolidation plan may affect the jobs of HSA members working in diagnostic imaging throughout the region will be held for HSA members working at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Langley Memorial Hospital, Mission Memorial Hospital, Fraser Canyon Hospital, and Chilliwack General Hospital as follows: