Menu

News & Updates

Subscribe to News & Updates

Community social service workers vote in favour of strike to back demands

May 30, 2011
Unions call on B.C. government and employers to protect community jobs and services Frontline community social services workers across British Columbia have given their bargaining committees a strike mandate of 85% in Community Living and 77% in General Services. The vote follows more than 18 months of protracted contract talks that broke down on March 30.

HSA conducting phone survey of members May 31-June 15

May 30, 2011
Beginning May 31, HSA is conducting a phone survey of members in communities around the province. The survey, which focuses on HSAs communications tools and practices, will be conducted by Viewpoints Research. Callers will contact members at random until 600 interviews are completed. Be assured that members will not be called during Canucks games! If you are called, please agree to participate. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes, and your views will help HSA plan improvements to The Report, our web site, e-mail bulletins, social media strategy and more.

Professional development: What are your priorities?

May 25, 2011
In the recently negotiated collective agreement covering health science professionals working in hospitals and communities around the province, a $450,000 professional development fund was established for use by members over the term of the collective agreement. Following ratification of the agreement, a joint committee of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) was established to develop priorities and terms of reference for the fund.

Election underway for Region 8 Director

May 25, 2011
Four candidates have been nominated to run for Regional Director in Region 8.  A by-election was called following the resignation of Joan Magee as Region 8 Director.  The new Director will serve the remainder of Magees 2-year term, ending at the conclusion of HSAs 2012 convention. The 4 candidates seeking election are:

Overcrowding puts lives at risk

May 21, 2011
The Okanagan Saturday Hospital overcrowding has potentially fatal consequences. It's not just a matter of discomfort and indignity.  Health professionals are raising the alarm because we need to care for all patients thoroughly and quickly. But when a hospital is regularly forced to admit up to 29 percent more patients than capacity - 44 more than the 148 beds at Vernon Jubilee - lives are at stake. Surgeries are cancelled. The people of Vernon deserve better.

Overcrowding in our hospitals

May 20, 2011
Penticton Herald Dear Editor: Overcrowding at a hospital has potentially fatal consequences. It's not just a matter of discomfort and indignity. Health professionals are raising the alarm because we need to care for all patients thoroughly and quickly. But when a hospital is regularly forced to admit up to 29 per cent more patients than capacity - 44 more than the 148 beds at Vernon Jubilee - lives are at stake. Surgeries are cancelled. The people of Vernon deserve better.

HSA offers scholarships for Summer Institute for Union Women

May 18, 2011
-Putting Women in Their Place ... in our Unions, in Politics and in our Communities" July 13 ... 17, 2011 - University of Victoria

Members sought to support HSA members in new enhanced disability management program

May 18, 2011
As of April 1, 2011, new language came into effect in the HSPBA and NBA collective agreements with respect to an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) designed to facilitate an employee-centred, pro-active, appropriate and customized disability management program for employees with occupational and non-occupational illness/injury. As a workplace based program, successful implementation of the EDMP requires designated union representatives who will play an active role in ensuring members realize the greatest benefit from this groundbreaking program.

BC Community Living Action Group marks 7th anniversary of Christy Clarks move to create CLBC, as unfulfilled promises leave vulnerable families, adults waiting

May 17, 2011
For immediate release Seven years ago, BC's Deputy Premier and Minister for Children & Families, Christy Clark, introduced legislation to establish Community Living BC, promising that the new authority would change the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families for the better.

HSA Board of Directors re-elects vice president, elects new secretary-treasurer

May 4, 2011
Val Avery -- a physiotherapist at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria -- has been re-elected by the HSA board of directors to serve as the unions vice-president. Avery is the unions regional director for Region 2. The vice-president assumes the duties of the president at the presidents request or in the presidents absence and chairs the unions resolutions committee. This is her second term as vice-president.

Pages