News & Updates

HSA president Val Avery listens to Ingrid Sochting, an HSA member and chief psychologist for Richmond mental health outpatient services. HSA marked yesterday's expiry of the Canadian Health Accord with a public forum on mental health services. "For the past three years, Prime Minister Harper has refused to meet with the provinces to discuss the renewal of the health accord...

HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), recently met with employers March 10 to 12 to negotiate a resolution to the approximately 1500 grievances related to the 2013 transition to a 37.5 hour work week. Aided by veteran arbitrators Vince Ready and Corrine Bell, some progress was achieved. A ruling is expected shortly to address management's...

BC HEALTH COALITION The current Health Accord expires March 31st, 2014 and the federal government is refusing to renegotiate it. Expiration of the accord will result in a $36 billion dollar cut to public health care, and an additional $16.5 billion dollar cut to health care equalization payments. On March 31, people across the country will be holding rallies to...

Joseph Sebastian has been elected as the Regional Director to represent members from Region 4 on the HSA Board of Directors. Sebastian is a medical radiation technologist at Vancouver General Hospital and has served as a general steward at Vancouver General Hospital for over 10 years. He takes office on adjournment of the 2014 HSA Convention in Vancouver for a...

Derrick Hoyt has been re-elected as the Regional Director to represent members from Region 2 on the HSA Board of Directors. Hoyt is pathologist’s assistant at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. He has served in many roles as an active union member for the past 25 years, including as a Member at Large and Steward. He was first elected to...

Members are advised that Pacific Blue Cross will suspend its pay direct and online claim services for one week to allow for a major transition to an upgraded health and dental system. The services will be suspended from March 27 to April 3, 2014. The Pay Direct Drug Card will not be able to be processed at pharmacies from March...

Health Sciences Association of BC, a union representing mental health professionals working in hospitals and communities across the province, will hold a public forum on mental health services March 31 in Vancouver. Download and share the poster “Support for British Columbians struggling with mental illness and mental health is desperately needed. The HSA members who work every day with patients...

HSA’s Registered Psychiatric Nurses are encouraged to apply for education funding to cover costs related to participation in the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC (CRPNBC) Annual Education Day scheduled for Friday, May 9 2014 in Coquitlam. The education day – TRAUMA – It Affects Us All - focuses on providing valuable insights into the various forms of trauma...

Bill 7, the Laboratory Services Act was introduced in the BC Legislature by the Liberal government on February 17, 2014, and is currently at the stage of first reading. The proposed legislation makes significant changes in several areas, including the legislative framework, governance and funding models for medical laboratory services. A general overview of these changes is available here on...

In preparation for the 2014 Annual Convention, HSA's Annual Report is now available for all members to read at http://www.hsabc.org/about/annual-reports. Featuring executive reports from HSA's president and director of labour relations and legal services, reports from HSA's committees, audited financial statements and a full list of resolutions submitted to the upcoming convention, the Annual Report provides members and the public...