2009: News Archive

August 11 ... 15, 2009University of California, at Los Angeles The 28th Annual Western Regional Summer Institute on Union Women will be held August 11-15, 2009, at the University of California, Los Angeles. The five day residential program brings together 150 participants from the United States' and Canada's western regions for exciting workshops and speakers on the history, struggles, and...

The campaign to raise awareness of the importance of community-based social services is being supported by municipal councils across BC. To date, 31 city councils have passed resolutions declaring March as Community Social Services Awareness Month, following presentations by local workers in the sector. Related events include -The Value of Community Social Services" public forums in Kamloops on March 19...

Although all working people report they are suffering from more stress related to balancing responsibilities at work and at home, the greater burden is falling on women. Statistics reveal that women bear the brunt of duties associated with child care, are the primary caregivers for the elder care of aging parents and are responsible for the majority of household chores...

March 9, 2009 OHSAH is pleased to announce that it will be moving forward with the development of the OHSAH Learning Portal, which will provide BC's healthcare stakeholders with access to a centralized repository of healthcare occupational health and safety (OHS) education and training resources. Two of the primary goals of the Learning Portal are to reduce duplication and increase...

While there is no general wage increase, the 24-month extension provides a 3 per cent labour market adjustment in 2010 and in 2011. Thats in addition to the 4.2 per cent wage increase already negotiated and scheduled for April 1, 2009. HSA represents just over 800 Registered Psychiatric Nurses covered by the Nurses' Bargaining Association collective agreement. HSA's nurses will...

On February 6, 2009, the government tabled legislation that will radically change the rules governing pay equity in the federal public sector. The Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act - which has been included as part of the omnibus Budget Implementation Act - will remove the right of public sector workers to file complaints for pay equity with the Canadian Human...

Workers' Perspectives: A Violence in Healthcare survey The Provincial Violence Prevention Steering Committee (PVPSC) wants to hear about workers' experiences with violence to create an accurate picture of violence in healthcare workplaces. This survey is the first tool of its kind that will help identify priority areas for violence prevention efforts. If you are a BC healthcare worker, you are...

Are you a woman planning to participate in the upcoming provincial election campaign? If so, then the BCFLs Womens Campaign School may be for you. Dates: March 21-24, 2009Location: Harrison Hot Springs, BCThis School will bring together the labour movement and progressive women candidates to offer women of all experience levels the opportunity to learn about ways to participate in...

Todays 2009/2010 provincial budget announcements failed to provide any new money for health care in British Columbia until 2011. In addition, the budget included no movement towards the creation of previously promised not-for-profit residential beds or any new funding for seniors care. -In times of economic crisis, providing the ability for health authorities to invest in home and community care...

Todays budget tabled by the BC Liberal government makes it clear that the BC Liberals are in a holding pattern until the next provincial election, says Reid Johnson, president of the Health Sciences Association of BC. HSA represents more than 15,000 health science professionals who provide clinical, diagnostic and rehabilitation services in hospitals and community facilities. -Finance minister Colin Hansen...