HSA is offering two 2-day OH&S steward workshops this fall:

Dates:
Workshop #1:  November 2 & 3, 2009
Workshop #2:  November 23 & 24, 2009

Location:
HSA Office, 300 ... 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver

Stewards play a vital role in the union.  Particularly important is the stewards role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure.  In recognition of the need for educating new stewards in these areas, HSA is offering a 3-day Steward Training ... Level 1 workshop at the HSA office this fall:

Dates:  October 26, 27, 28, 2009
Location: HSA Office, 300 ... 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers 1518 have been on strike since December, 2008 over wages and benefits.

Join the members at a New Westminster and District Labour Council-organized Pancake Breakfast Rally to show your support.

Four unions have reached a settlement with the BC government that provides compensation for community social services workers who lost job security provisions under the Liberal governments 2002 contract-breaking legislation known as Bill 29.

The settlement amounts to $425,000 divided among four unions, including Health Sciences Association of BC. The other unions are the BC Government and Service Employees Union which represents approximately 70 per cent of workers in the sector, along with the Canadian Union of Public Employees and Hospital Employees Union.

CML employees in the Victoria clinics are encouraged to read the following memo outlining the impact of new technologies at CML's Victoria clinics.

June 12, 2009 Memo re: impact of technological change on staffing

BCs Minister of Health Kevin Falcon faces immediate challenges in his new job, says Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of BC.

 -Just this week, it was revealed that health authorities are facing financial pressures that could result in reduced services and increased user fees for British Columbians. In a growing province and where were seeing increasing acuity in the patients in the health care system, we need a focus on improving access to health care services ... not reducing access," he said.

You are invited to a Nanaimo town hall meeting June 11 as part of a national campaign to allow Canadians from all walks of life input into the discussion about the current economic crisis and to ensure that
governments find solutions that work for all Canadians.

The -experts" had their chance. We tried it their way: it didnt work, and now its our turn.

Ergonomic workstation resources available

The Injury Prevention department at OHSAH will release two new print items this month: a workstation assessment checklist (Computer Workstation Assessment Checklist) and poster (Avoid Discomfort at your Workstation). Both the poster and the checklist contain visual guidelines to personal workstation improvements.

To order your copy, you can contact webmaster@ohsah.bc.ca
or download them from our webpage.

At a national conference this weekend, the Canadian Association of Labour Media awarded its highest honour to The Report, the magazine for HSA members.

The Report won "Best Overall Publication" demonstrating the best combined use of writing, graphics, design, and editorial content and judgement.  The category includes all local, provincial, and national union publications produced by staff, including federations of labour across Canada

Dates:
Friday, June 12 (Vancouver - HSA office)  FULL
Tuesday, June 16 (Vancouver ... HSA office)
Thursday, June 18 (Victoria ... Hotel Grand Pacific)

The June 12 workshop is now full.  Another workshop has been added for Tuesday, June 16 at the HSA office.

HSA members who work in a supervisory role will have the opportunity to attend a one-day workshop in either Vancouver at the HSA office or Victoria at the Hotel Grand Pacific.