News & Updates

British Columbia families will bear the brunt of the provincial governments failure to adequately fund health care, Health Sciences Association of BC president Reid Johnson said in response to the provincial governments budget introduced today.-This budget means that British Columbians, who rely on our health care system, will pay more for less." Johnson said.The government will introduce additional costs to...

PHAC should follow the 'precautionary principle' for everyone who comes in direct contact with the pandemic influenza virus and make a 'fit-tested NIOSH approved N95 respirator' available to each employee. Ottawa (1 Sept. 2009) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) says all health care workers exposed to a pandemic flu virus like H1N1 should be given...

Monday, September 7 - celebrate Labour Day around the Province! Click here for a list of events in your community.

Join HSA, the BC Federation of Labour and other colleagues for a fun and relaxing family day Monday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the annual Labour Day Picnic at John Hendry Park (Trout Lake) by Nanaimo Skytrain Station. The day will include family entertainment, fun (games and prizes), and food ($0.50 hotdogs, drinks & corn on...

The municipal Pension Plan continues to offer pension seminars to plan members. Plan members have a choice of two seminars. Your Pension, Your Future is for new and mid-career plan members. In this seminar, they'll explain pension benefits and help members understand how decisions they make today can impact their future pension income. Members will learn how to read their...

The various Health Authorities in the Lower Mainland (VCHA, PHSA, FHA and PHC) today issued a press release dealing with "Lower Mainland Consolidation Opportunities". The Union was only given the information, at a meeting with various Health Authorities, immediately before the press release was made public. The Union has not yet been provided any specific information in regards any potential...

One-time only opportunity to apply for portability of previous seniority credits In early 2008, the Nurses Bargaining Association was able to bargain a modification to portability of seniority for employees covered by the nurses provincial collective agreement. HSA was at the table representing our registered psychiatric nurse members. The collective agreement will be modified so that regular employees will receive...

This years annual Run for the Cure, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's most important fundraiser, is Sunday October 4. HSA has supported the run since 1997, and is one of three regional sponsors of the Run for the Cure. At every step from diagnosis to treatment and recovery, highly trained health science professionals use their expertise to help breast cancer...

The B.C. Federation of Labour Young Worker Retreat is planned for September 25 to 27 at Camp Jubilee. Participants at last year's retreat for 19- to 30-year-old union members enjoyed the opportunity to meet other newcomers and activists to the union movement, and the retreat is expected to fill up quickly. Follow the link for information about registration and retreat...

Health Sciences Association will hold a Bargaining Proposal Conference November 8-10, 2009 to prepare for bargaining of a new collective agreement for health science professionals. The current collective agreement expires March 31, 2010. Elections for delegates to the Bargaining Proposal Conference will be held at regional meetings set for September and October 2009. The schedule of regional meetings follows. All...