News & Updates

(first web-posted January 17, 2007) Delegates to the 2007 HSA Convention will elect a new union president for the first time in 14 years. As this marks a major change in the leadership of the union, HSA will be holding a series of three all-candidate meetings to give chief stewards an opportunity to meet the presidential candidates, hear their vision...

Do you want to work to elect representatives in the coming federal election who will support public health care and community social services, and who respect the work that HSA members perform? Have you ever considered running for elected office yourself? If your answer to one or both of these questions is -Yes!" (or even just -Maybe"), then HSAs non-partisan...

The Report: February / March 2007 vol.28 num.1by YUKIE KURAHASHI s part of her job, Sandra Wyatt makes extraordinary dreams come true for gravely ill children. Her expertise and abundant empathy give every sick child she works with the best possible chance for effective treatment and recovery. Its a tall order, but that only begins to describe Wyatts job as...

The Report: February / March 2007 vol.28 num.1 by CAROLE PEARSON ne in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Joan Magee, a lab technologist at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, never thought she would be one of them.Magee, HSAs Regional Director for Region 8, was at an HSA board meeting last year when a report...

The Report: February / March 2007 vol.28 num.1 by JULIO TRUJILLO Im proud to be a union steward. HSA has given me excellent training incontract interpretation, conducting safety inspections,even conflictresolution and leadership. I find that Im able to help my colleagueswith most of their workplace issues ... but recently Ive encountered asituation thats unwieldy and complex. When should I phone...

The Report: February / March 2007 vol.28 num.1 by CINDY STEWART his mo nth the Conversation on Health gets going in earnest, with the first two public forums set for Kamloops and Surrey. In addition to the public forums, -health professional" forums are scheduled, as well as smaller focus groups of health professionals. HSA members will be participating in the...

As provided under the Nurses Bargaining Association collective agreement, an Early Intervention Program (EIP) is to be implemented effective February 12, 2007. The purpose of the EIP is to facilitate pro-active, appropriate and customized programs to assist workers who are off work due to injury or illness to successfully return to work. How does it work?A full-time worker who has...

The Municipal Pension Plan is hosting retirement seminars in the coming months at various locations throughout B.C. Who can attend?All plan members are welcome, including those receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits. There is no charge to attend and guests and spouses are invited. What does the seminar cover?The basics of the penion plan are explained and the retirement process, from...

The B.C. Health Coalition will mark the first public forum in the 'Conversation on Health' with a rally for public health care in Kamloops this weekend. Speakers will include Anita Strong, Chair, Council of Canadians - Kamloops chapter; Deb Ducharme, BC Nurses' Union, and Fred Muzin, Hospital Employees' Union. Date: Saturday, February 3, 2007Time: 8 a.m. (hot coffee served from...

The provincial government has announced the dates for the regional forums on health care. In Burnaby, the forum will be held March 24 at the Executive Hotel and Conference Centre, 4201 Lougheed Highway. Deadline for registration for the forum in Burnaby is February 9. Health care professionals have been barred from participating in the public forums, but are encouraged to...