News & Updates

The Report: October / November 2008 vol.29 num.4 What are the general guidelines you recommend for scheduling vacations? What happens if my vacation gets cancelled because of staff shortages? As vacation scheduling can be a very sensitive issue, both members and union stewards should be proactive and be aware of deadlines for vacation requests and approvals. Ask for notification of...

The Report: October / November 2008 vol.29 num.4 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN n Uganda, there are no biomedical engineers. When medical equipment breaks, it is often just shoved into a storage room. Sometimes, even new, perfectly functioning medical equipment, donated by a well-meaning NGO or foreign government wanting to help this country recover from years of brutal dictatorship and repression, just...

The Report: October / November 2008 vol.29 num.4 by CAROLE PEARSON 've had an amazing career," says Cathy Fix, an ultrasound supervisor for Providence Health in vancouver. -Ive been doing ultrasound for 25 years. Ive done sales, clinical applications, and some marketing. Ive done traveling with it. Ive been to places like Bangkok, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the States. For me...

The Report: October / November 2008 vol.29 num.4 by REID JOHNSON Gordon Campbell just wants you to shut up BC. That was the message unions delivered through advertising when the B.C. government introduced Bill 42, the election law that limits organizations' ability to comment on government's actions. -The legislation effectively muzzles discussion about the throne speech, the budget, and any...

HSA is sponsoring an Occupational Health and Safety Conference -Connections ... Advocating for a Safe and Healthy Workplace" November 20 and 21, 2008Hilton Vancouver Airport HotelThis conference is designed for experienced safety stewards to develop their understanding and to help ensure safe working conditions for all members. Learn from presenters from agencies such as OHSAH, WorkSafeBC, and other experts.Learn more...

Notice of Chapter Meeting Help keep your union strong!HSA Stewards: ­ Advocate on behalf of members Keep members informed about union activities Provide democratic leadership Are the backbone of the union HSA offers ongoing leadership, grievance handling, and contract interpretation training for new and experienced stewards. Nominations and Voting: Date: Thursday, November 13th, 2008 Place: Paetzold Health Education Centre Multipurpose...

Prince Rupert Daily News By Patrick Witwicki The Run for the Cure is back for another lap. Last year, CIBC's Run for the Cure made its debut in Prince Rupert, and was considered a moderate success. Not necessarily from the funds that were raised -- although the B.C. provincial total was impressive at $26 million -- but with the number...

Team OHSAH Team OHSAH successfully completed the Hoodoo 500 ultra-cycling race through 835 km of the Utah Canyonlands. From September 13-15, eight OHSAH employees undertook this physical and mental challenge to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation.The two teams ... OHSAH One and OHSAH Uno ... worked hard at training and fundraising. They not only raised $35,600 for the...

'How many more people must die before the Harper government realizes that public health and safety must always transcend the boundaries of ideology?' James Clancy, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) Each passing week since the deadly outbreak of listeriosis at a Maple Leaf Foods Inc. plant in Toronto brings more evidence of the Harper government's ineptitude in...

By Larry BrownNational Secretary-TreasurerNational Union of Public and General EmployeesCanadian governments have made our public health care and other social programs very vulnerable to attack by private for profit companies outside of Canada. They have done that by signing trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Weve known that for years î º and for years weve...