News & Updates

Due to increased demand for steward training and OH&S steward training, HSA is offering the following workshops: Basic OH&S Steward Training (2-day workshop): Oct 19&20 NEW DATE: Nov 7 & 8, 2011 Basic Steward Training (3-day workshop): October 24 ... 26, 2011 Please apply ASAP as workshops have been filling up quickly. Pre-registration forms: Basic OH&S Steward Training Basic Steward...

Due to the current lock-out by Canada Post of Canadian Union of Postal Workers members, HSA is extending the deadline for Region 8 members to return their mail-in ballots to elect a new Region 8 Director. Wednesday, June 29 was the original deadline for HSA to receive ballots. Canada Post discontinued all regular mail delivery, and ceased accepting any new...

Since January 11, 2011, health employers have been attempting to consolidate Health Information Management (HIM) Lower Mainland wide. HSA has been making attempts to negotiate a labour adjustment agreement to minimize impacts to our health information management members caught up in this process. To date, HSA does not have an agreed upon labour adjustment agreement with Providence for HIM Lower...

The deadline for expressions of interest to act as union representatives playing an active role in ensuring members realize the greatest benefit from the recently agreed to Enhanced Disability Management Program has been extended to June 30, 2011. The extension is as a result of the excellent response to the initial call for representatives, and several requests for opportunities to...

Community social services workers and their supporters are taking their call for a fair collective agreement into the streets of Vancouver on Thursday, June 16. The early morning rally outside the offices of the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) will draw public attention to the ongoing crisis in community-based services and what needs to be done to improve working...

In the last contract talks, many health science professionals called attention to a serious issue: because of being required to be on call and work call-backs, staff are being forced to work with dangerously little rest between shifts. As part of the new collective agreement, the employer and unions committed to a working group to address these issues. The working...

July 13 ... 17, 2011 - University of Victoria The BC Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) offers an intensive week of learning within a supportive environment in which union women can develop their skills as workers, activists and leaders. Sponsored by the British Columbia Federation of Labour, the Institute will be held at the University of Victoria (UVIC). If...

The Report: June 2011 vol.32 num.2 HSA invited Andre Picard, health reporter for the Globe and Mail, to deliver a keynote address on the future of public health care in Canada. His speech touched on several recommendations for improving the system. Thank you for the kind introduction. But I recently changed my bio, courtesy of a politician who was angry...

The Report: June 2011 vol.32 num.2 What is an attendance promotion program? Employers are increasingly using programs intended to reduce the amount of money they lose on the sick days taken by their employees. These programs have been around for a long time, and while at first they consisted largely of individual meetings with employees who seemed to be using...

The Report: June 2011 vol.32 num.2 On the heels of a difficult ratification vote, HSA members from around the province gathered to do as theyve done for 40 years ... work together to meet the future challenges of an ever changing health care system. -OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, we will be focusing on the future of our union. Where...