News & Updates

Community social service workers have voted by 85.7 per cent in favour to ratify a new collective agreement that provides significant compensation increases for workers in this sector, while meeting the government mandate of improving the services British Columbians count on. Community Living workers ratified the tentative agreement by 82.3 per cent. General Services ratified by 95.8 per cent. Indigenous...

Health Emergency Management BC has activated the provincial Emergency Health Provider Registry to assist in the coordination of relief staffing for health care providers in areas impacted by the hundreds of wildfires burning across BC. Any Health Authority is able to access the registry when local emergencies create additional staffing needs. HSA was consulted in the development of the registry...

From June 20 to Sept. 28, a federal advisory council hosted public consultations to inform recommendations on the establishment of a national Pharmacare plan. As momentum builds for a national program, HSA members face an historic opportunity to advocate for a plan rooted in principles of fairness, accessibility, and universality. As the advisory council prepares its recommendations, our members of...

After several years of advocacy efforts by HSA, British Columbians will see the launch of the College of New Caledonia (CNC)’s Northern Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, scheduled to begin in Prince George in January 2019. Sonographers form a critical part of the public health team through producing sonographic images to assist medical practitioners in the diagnosis of a variety of...

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with the Pro vincial Health Services Authority? If so, consider applying to be an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative. Under the direction of designated HSA staff, the HSA EDMP Regional Representative works as...

Community health sector workers, including 1000 HSA members, have voted in favour of a tentative agreement reached with health employers. The three-year will take effect April 1, 2019 and expire March 31, 2022. The new collective agreement brings in yearly wage increases of two per cent in each of the next three years in addition to enhanced benefits, provisions for...

HSA members are invited to join the Multi Union Pride entry at the annual Vancouver Pride Parade Sunday August 5. Marchers are encouraged to join the many participating unions by 1:15 p.m. at the marshalling spot on Robson Street between Burrard and Thurlow streets. The Vancouver Pride Society brings together members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Two-Spirited and Queer...

A message from HSA President Val Avery On behalf of the Health Science Association’s 18,000 members, I am pleased to share the Final Report and Recommendations from our April 2018 Primary and Community Care Conference – Achieving High-Performing Primary and Community Care: The Critical Role of Health Science Professions. Too often in BC’s public health care system there is a...

Vancouver Whitecaps FC is helping celebrate Labour Day this year with reduced ticket prices for union members for the September 1 game vs. San Jose Earthquakes The game is Satruday, September 1, with a 7 p.m. kick-off. Tickets are available for union members at $27 each. For more information, contact Seth Gordon at 604.484.7870- or @email

HSA Basic Steward/OH&S Training Dates Fall 2018 Registration Information: Stewards may register by logging into My Events Registration. Workshops are listed under Steward Education events. Basic Steward Training Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In recognition of the need for educating new stewards in...