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Bosses don't always see value of service

July 21, 2012
Prince George Citizen Tim Laidler's Remembrance Day began, as it so often has since his return from Afghanistan in 2008, with a media interview, followed up by a moment of silence for the friends and colleagues he lost to war. At 26, Laidler has become something of a spokesman for combat veterans in British Columbia. His rocky transition back into a civilian career after an eight-month posting with the Canadian Forces in Kandahar serves as a cautionary tale to those who have more recently come home or are still overseas.

Bosses don't always see value of service

July 21, 2012
Prince George Citizen Tim Laidler's Remembrance Day began, as it so often has since his return from Afghanistan in 2008, with a media interview, followed up by a moment of silence for the friends and colleagues he lost to war. At 26, Laidler has become something of a spokesman for combat veterans in British Columbia. His rocky transition back into a civilian career after an eight-month posting with the Canadian Forces in Kandahar serves as a cautionary tale to those who have more recently come home or are still overseas.

Community Health Services and Support: talks adjourn until mid-August

July 20, 2012
The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) and the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) continued negotiations for the renewal of the Community Health collective agreement for four days and concluded on July 12, 2012.  Talks are scheduled to continue for two weeks in Vancouver starting August 15. During the week of bargaining, the CBA and HEABC discussed and tabled counter proposals on the issues of job postings, layoff and recall, arbitration procedure, occupational health and safety, and issues related to casual rights.

Cambie Audit: Government Must Stop Illegal Billing by Private Clinics - Medical Services Commission Audit of Cambie Surgery Centre and Specialist Referral Clinic Reveals Shocking Extent of Illegal Billing

July 19, 2012
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - July 19, 2012) - The BC Health Coalition is calling on the provincial government to undertake a full-scale review of all for-profit surgical facilities in the province in light of findings released by the Medical Services Commission yesterday. The MSC audit report shows that almost half of all the services examined at the Cambie and Specialist Referral clinics were eligible for public health insurance coverage, and that the clinics engaged in illegal billing regarding almost all of these eligible services.

Apply now for Community Social Services education funds

July 16, 2012
The Joint Community Social Services Labour Adjustment & Education Fund is now accepting applications from members working in the community social services sector.   Successful applicants may receive up to $5,000 (lifetime maximum) to take eligible courses. The labour adjustment and education funds are available through a grant from the provincial government resulting from a joint request made by the Community Social Services Bargaining Association and the Community Social Services Employers Association, during the negotiation of the 2010 ... 2012 collective agreement.

National Day of Action for a 2014 Health Accord

July 13, 2012
The federal government is turning its back on health care at a time when we need our elected leaders to help build a caring future for Canada. The current federal-provincial-territorial agreement on health care will end in 2014 and the federal government has walked away from the negotiating table with the provinces before negotiations have even started.

Training funds available for HSA members in the community health sector

July 11, 2012
If you are an HSA member who was laid off after January 28, 2002 due to re-tendering, contracting out, or bumping from a heath care job in the community subsector, - or - If you are a current employee in a community subsector job and are interested in skills development, you may be eligible for reimbursement of training costs. The retraining funds are available as a result of a settlement between health unions, health employers and the BC government related to a June, 2007 Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Bill 29.

Reminder ... Holidays Act Q&A: employees working July 2, 2012 get stat pay

June 29, 2012
Q: Im scheduled to work July 1, and not on July 2. However, my employer says that I will not be getting paid at the -statutory holiday" rate for work on July 1. Is this right? A: This year, July 1 falls on a Sunday. According to the federal Holidays Act, this means the legal statutory holiday is July 2. For 2012, members working July 2 will receive stat pay ... not those working July 1.

BCGEU members to strike in demand for fair and reasonable collective agreement

June 29, 2012
Late Monday evening, the BCGEU will commence a one-day job action at BC Liquor distribution centres in Vancouver, Victoria and Kamloops. HSA members are encouraged to join the BCGEU members at each of the three locations throughout the action, but primarily from 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 until the action is over at the end of the day.  Please bring banners and signs that show your support. Location details are as follows:

Hospital therapists slam Chilliwack rehab closure

June 26, 2012
Chilliwack Progress Byline: Robert Freeman  The Health Sciences Association of B.C. has joined Chilliwack hospital doctors and community leaders criticizing the decision to replace a rehab unit at Chilliwack General with an outpatient service. "Doctors and rehab specialists were not consulted about this closure," said HSABC President Reid Johnston.

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