News & Updates

The multi-union community social services bargaining association is planning for a strategic escalation of job action. Job action in coming weeks will highlight the diversity and scope of crucial services that members provide, including: - assistance, shelter, and counselling for women and children fleeing violence - infant development consultation and therapy - counselling and guidance for youth at risk -...

For immediate release: January 15, 2013 British Columbians were dismayed to learn from a CBC Go Public report this week that families with autistic children are having to wait as long as two and a half years for crucial speech language therapy. Click here to read CBCs Go Public Report: -Child who doesn't speak waits 2½ years for therapy" Therapists...

The multi-union Community Health Services and Support Bargaining Association has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC). The two-year proposed agreement covers more than 14,000 workers in community health, and comes after one year of difficult negotiations. The agreement achieves members' key priorities including an across-the-board wage increase while protecting health and welfare benefits...

The next HSA Annual Convention will take place April 18-20, 2013 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. 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...

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- was murdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on the job...

Space is still available in HSAs 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school. This will be the last campaign school offered by HSA before the May 2013 provincial election, so members planning to work on this election are encouraged to apply. This workshop is designed for members with little or no experience in electoral politics, but who are interested in working on...

In 2005, David Bland -- a vocationalrehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health -- wasmurdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served asa sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violencein the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on thejob. Tohonour David, the HSA board...

This year, Regional Director elections will take place in Regions 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. 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 receive wage replacement for the time they spend in...

Bargaining for the Community Health Services and Support sector reconvenes on Monday, January 7 in Vancouver following a break over the holidays. Members in the sector have been in bargaining for a year. There will be no job action this week, but if an agreement cannot be reached by the end of next week, rotating strike action will recommence starting...

castanet.net Don. W. started drinking when he was 13 to numb the pain he felt from years of bullying and sexual, physical and mental abuse. The Keremeos man remained an alcoholic for much of his life, until at age 53, he realized he wanted to re-discover who he was. A big part of finding himself was getting counselling through the...