News & Updates
Nominations open for Regional Director positions in Region 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10
December 20, 2007
This year, Regional Director elections will take place in Regions 2, 4, 6, 8, & 10. All HSA members in these regions are encouraged to put their name forward for these important positions.
Directors meet, on average, every six weeks and take an active leadership role in representing the union. They will receive wage replacement for the time they spend in official meetings at their own regular rate of pay. Part-time and casual members are reimbursed as if they were at work during the meetings they attend.
•Therefore be it resolved
December 20, 2007
HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2008 HSA Convention, to be held April 17, 18, & 19, 2008 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby.
Conventions are where chapters from around the province determine the future direction of the union. Policies, actions, constitutional amendments, structural changes are all discussed and debated at convention.
2008 HSA Convention to be held April 17-19 in Burnaby
December 20, 2007
The next HSA Annual Convention will take place April 17-19, 2008 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby.
All HSA members are welcome to attend and speak at the convention. However, only delegates have the right to vote.
For chapters with 49 or fewer members, the HSA chief steward is the sole delegate. If the chief steward is not attending convention, an alternate should be identified. Chapters with more than 49 members are entitled to one additional delegate for each additional 50 members or portion thereof.
HSA election campaign school
December 19, 2007
There will be elections at all 3 levels of government during the next 18 months. A federal election is expected to be called in early 2008. Municipal and school board elections will be held in November, 2008. The provincial election is scheduled for May, 2009.
If you want to help elect representatives who will support public health care and community social services, or are considering possibly running for elected office yourself, then HSAs non-partisan campaign school is for you!
Campaign School Dates: January 31 & February 1, 2008
CML Healthcare members ratify collective agreement
December 14, 2007
HSA members working at CML Healthcare, a private provider of medical diagnostic testing services, ratified a new collective agreement with this week.
The agreement was ratified by a 78 per cent vote in favour. For members in the Lower Mainland locations of CML Healthcare, it is a first agreement, as earlier this year they joined the existing bargaining unit representing their colleagues on Vancouver Island.
Highlights of the agreement include:
Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat names new co-chair
December 4, 2007
Elisabeth Ballermann has been named Co-chair of the Canadian Health Professionals Secretariat (CHPS), a national advocacy body that represents more than 60,000 health science professionals in more than 100 disciplines.
These workers deliver the diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation services essential to timely and quality health care.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) created the CHPS to help address the challenges and opportunities faced by health science professionals and to raise their profile across the country.
Tentative agreement reached with CML; ratification meetings Dec. 10 and 11
November 30, 2007
A tentative agreement for a new contract was reached this week between Health Sciences Association of BC and CML Healthcare.
Details of the proposed agreement, as well as a vote on whether to accept the contract, will be held Monday December 10 in the Lower Mainland, and Tuesday December 11 on Vancouver Island.
The information and ratification vote meetings will be held as follows:
British Columbians say public health care matters; will government listen?
November 30, 2007
-The government has heard, but the real test is whether they will listen to the thousands of British Columbians who said through the Conversation on Health that they value our public health care system," Leslie Dickout, Medicare campaigner for the B.C. Health Coalition said today in response to the release of the Conversation on Health summary report.
The key message delivered to government through the months-long conversation is that British Columbians believe in a strong and sustainable public health care system.
Harper urged to 'keep the promise' on World AIDS Day
November 29, 2007
World AIDS Day, observed Dec. 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. This year the World AIDS day theme, STOP AIDS, Keep the Promise, has special resonance in Canada, where the Harper government appears to be wavering on a key domestic funding promise and leadership on the global stage continues to falter.
BC Government fails to address seniors health care crisis
November 28, 2007
The BC government is once again poised to conclude another session of the legislature without taking action to resolve seniors health care concerns. One year ago, Patricia Baird tabled the Premiers Council on Aging and Seniors report, Aging Well in BC*, which was commissioned by the BC government to provide recommendations on how BC can best meet the needs of our growing seniors population. Seniors from across the province participated in this process in good faith, and they are still waiting for action on the key recommendations.