News & Updates

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN The basic job description for Biomedical Engineering Technologists (BMET) sounds undeniably dry: they take care of medical equipment. But in reality the job is varied and interesting, involving a multitude of skills and demanding, occasionally, miracles, says Ron Fyffe, a BMET at Vancouver General Hospital, where he is also...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN No meetings. No budget. No long-term plan. Just a deeply felt desire to honour three colleagues whod been injured in a violent workplace altercation. Thats how Shannon Breeze, a registered psychiatric nurse in Victoria, describes the origin of the Purple Ribbon Campaign she helped initiate at her workplace in...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by SARAH OLEARY Even though it hurts, Ive been working with a job-related injury. Recently, its been getting worse. When should I file a WCB claim? How do I decide whether to take time off work? Our department is short-staffed, and there will be no one to replace me if I stop...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by CINDY STEWART n the past month, Ihave been fortunate to spend some time with Dr. Michael Rachlis, ahealth policy analyst who has done extensive research on the state ofCanadas public health care system. Dr. Rachliss work generates a great deal of thought and comes at a time when Canadians are embroiled...

The Labour Peace Forum, taking place at the University of B.C. June 25 and 26, will feature discussion about trade unions' experiences in the peace movement around the world. Featured presenters include: Thulas Nxesi, the current President of Education International and the General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union; Abdulla Musin, International Representative of the Iraqi Workers' Federation...

HSA members are invited to attend the official opening for the TELUS Tour for the Cure in Vernon on Wednesday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at the Village Green Mall. The TELUS Tour for the Cure is an informative and interactive exhibit that will travel to communities across British Columbia over the next eight months to promote the value and...

The Report, HSA's official publication published six times per year, has been awarded the Ed Finn Award for best feature story by the national 450-member Canadian Association of Labour Media (CALM). The article "Health care workers face highest risk" by Carol Riviere and Yukie Kurahashi was an in-depth feature on workplace violence in the health care setting. It featured HSA...

Ottawa (23 May 2006) - The International Labour Organization has blasted the government of Canada in extraordinarily frank language for failing to uphold international labour standards that it is obligated to enforce. Ottawa has also been rebuked for not using its influence to bring offending Canadian provinces into compliance with the United Nations labour standards.Canada now ranks as the fifth...

HSA members in Region 1 have acclaimed Suzanne Bennett as their representative to HSAs Board of Directors. She was acclaimed after the May 18, 2006 deadline passed with no further nominations. Suzanne is the first HSA member from the community social services sector to serve on the board.Suzanne is a youth addictions counsellor at the John Howard Society in Courtenay...

A complete wage grid " and wage rates " effective April 1, 2006 for the 2006 ... 2010 Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) is now available for viewing and downloading on the HSA website at www.hsabc.org. The wage rates and grid levels reflect the changes negotiated in the recent round of collective bargaining. "The wage schedule applies to most...