The Report

The Report: April 2009 vol.30 num.1 I work in a transition house in a very small community. One of our clients has a partner who was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He is now out on bail. He followed my co-worker to the local grocery store and said that if the client did not drop the assault charges...

The Report: April 2009 vol.30 num.1 ith the complicity and assistance of the provincial government, workers compensation in BC has been steadily eroded and curtailed. HSA sponsored a team of compensation experts to investigate reductions that have occurred between 2002 and 2008. Their report, soon to be published, revealed a need for immediate action. Why do elected Members of the...

The Report: January/February 2009 vol.29 num.6 by SUSANNE SHAW recurring theme among HSAs health science professionals who are pressed for time at work but who want to encourage new recruits into the professions to help ease the workload is that they just dont have the time to mentor students. To encourage -the best and the brightest to come work for...

The Report: January/February 2009 vol.29 num.6 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN danadas provincial and federal social programs are meant to provide a safety net, but there are always people who fall through the gaps ... often landing on rough ground. Thats where HSA member Aaron Wilson can help: as Community Coordinator for the Opportunities Fund at the Centre for Ability in vancouver...

The Report: January/February 2009 vol.29 num.6 The chief paramedical for our department has recently had to take some time off for illness. One of my colleagues was temporarily appointed to the chief position, and has been acting in that capacity ever since. He is doing a terrific job. However, I had also hoped to apply for the chief position one...

The Report: January/February 2009 vol.29 num.6 hen CBC news reporter David McKie was assigned to work on a story about the labour movements annual Day of mourning for injured workers held every April, he began to look into workplace injury statistics. What he found shocked him into action. He launched a three-year investigation into workplace safety in Canada, and discovered...

The Report: January/February 2009 vol.29 num.6 by REID JOHNSON s I told the 2008 convention delegates, since my election as president in 2007, I have heard members from around the province say that it was time for HSA to assess where we have come from, where we are, and where we are going into the future. There is little question...

The Report: December 2007 / January 2008 vol.28 num.6 by REID JOHNSON s the finishing touches were being put on the 1500-page report fromthe BC governments yearlong Conversation on Health, Health MinisterGeorge Abbott continued to pussy-foot around the issue of increasedprivatization of our health care system. Following a meeting with former UK Health Minister Frank Dobson who warned Abbott about...

The Report: December 2007 / January 2008 vol.28 num.6by MIRIAM SOBRINO his question about regional seniority arose from discussions at a regional meeting held this fall on Vancouver Island. I understand that it was mandated by the union over ten years ago to pursue a provincial wide seniority list, allowing members to travel to any hospital in the province. What...

The Report: December 2007 / January 2008 vol.28 num.6by LAURA BUSHEIKIN ean Lee was an HSA member for 18 years without giving much thought towhat she could do for the union, or what it could do for her. -I had no clue," says Lee ruefully. This changed radically last February when Lee reluctantly accepted the position of General Steward for...