HSA community health members set priorities for 2012 bargaining
HSA delegates put wages and benefits at the top of their priority list at the unions bargaining proposal conference for members who work in the community health sector.
Delegates to the October 17 bargaining meeting considered bargaining proposals submitted by chapters, and while wages and benefits will be the priority for HSA representatives to the bargaining committee, members also directed their representatives to the bargaining table to seek improvements in vacation, bullying language, job security, mileage rates and support for a transit subside, and professional development and education.
Delegates to the conference elected Kate Meier, a residential care worker at South Peace Child Development Centre, as their representative to the Bargaining Table. HSA Senior Labour Relations Officer Dani Demetlika will be HSAs lead negotiator. Linda Spenard, a mental health and addiction support worker at Columbian Centre Society was elected as the alternate.
Members of the expanded committee, an HSA committee to provide advice and feedback to the bargaining committee members, are Sharon Sawyer, a child care assistant at Thompson Nicola Family Resource Society, and Melanie St. George, an environmental health clerk at North Shore Community Health Services.
There are 600 HSA members covered by the Community Health collective agreement. HSA is a member of the union bargaining association, the Community Bargaining Association. The BC Government and Service Employees Union represents the majority of workers in the community health sector. The collective agreement expires in March 2012.