Following more than a year and a half of negotiations, members of the community social services bargaining committee have been unable to reach a tentative collective agreement.

Members gave the unions bargaining representatives direction to negotiate improvements in layoff and bumping language, and improved job security.   The committee made heroic efforts to negotiate improvements that protect members against job loss, and work within the governments "zero mandate".

Fraser Health Authority and union representatives are set to resume negotiations concerning the employers plans to consolidate hospital and community-based pharmacy services across the Lower Mainland.

Since January 10 of this year, the union has met with Providence on three occasions to negotiate a labour adjustment agreement. Three more meetings are scheduled.

The intent of these meetings is to negotiate a labour adjustment agreement that mitigates the impacts of the employers proposed consolidation structure for our members working in Health Information Management.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Associations last push to achieve a contract ended this week, with talks breaking off Wednesday after 18 months at the bargaining table.

HSAs board of directors has approved a recommendation by HSAs representatives in the multi-union bargaining association to take a strike vote.

The BCFed Health & Safety Centre has scheduled training programs across the Lower Mainland during this week.  Please register and view schedule at www.healthandsafetybc.ca or call 604.430.1421.

Reimbursement is available through the Madden Memorial Education Fund and application forms are available on the HSA website.

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Right wing governments are using the economic downturn to attack collective agreements and workers' right. 

The B.C. Federation of Labour stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters under attack by the Republican government of Wisconsin.

The -Budget Repair Bill" adopted by the states House of Representatives includes draconian measures that eliminate fundamental rights of Wisconsin public employees, cut real wages and attempt to destroy their unions. 

HSA is offering two one-day workshops at the HSA office:

Dates:  Thursday, June 2, 2011 -- or -- Tuesday, June 14, 2011

HSA members who work in a supervisory role have the opportunity to attend a one-day workshop in Vancouver at the HSA office.

Supervisors have particular concerns and needs and sometimes feel -caught in the middle".  One of the goals of the "Supervisors in the Union" workshop is to resolve apparent conflicts and clear the lines of communication between supervisors, stewards and HSA in order to improve working relationships.

Members on Vancouver Island are invited to participate in a walk and rally for community social services planned for Victoria on March 26.

The walk is an all-inclusive celebration to raise awareness about the vital role of community social services. The walk will commence & end at Centennial Square.

Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011
Place: Centennial Square, Victoria
Start Time: 11:00 am

Welcoming remarks: Michael "Mickey" Cook, Namgis First Nation (Alert Bay Region)

HSA members in Region 9 have re-elected Janice Morrison to a second term as their representative on the HSA Board of Directors.  Janice is a physiotherapist at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson.

The other candidate for election was Jackie Spain, a medical laboratory technologist at Golden & District Hospital.

HSA members in Region 7 have re-elected Marg Beddis to a third term as their representative on the unions Board of Directors.  Marg is a dietitian at Surrey Memorial Hospital.  

The other candidate for election was Brent Jeklin, a medical radiation technologist at Langley Memorial Hospital.