News & Updates

This year Regional Director elections will take place in Regions 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10. All HSA members in these regions are encouraged to put their name forward for these important positions. Directors meet, on average, every six weeks and take an active leadership role in representing the union. They are reimbursed for the time they spend in official...

BL10087 The 10th Annual Labour Community Christmas Dinners will be held on Saturday, December 24th, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Whalley Legion Hall in Surrey and the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver. There are many ways that HSA members can help. HSA members wishing to make a donation can send cheques payable to: Labour Community Christmas Dinner c/o...

BL10086 HSA members covered by the Community Social Services Bargaining Association collective agreement held a bargaining proposal conference last week to discuss priorities for the upcoming negotiations. The current collective agreement expires March 31, 2006. Pat Jacklin, an HSA member at Comox Valley Transition Society, was elected to join Labour Relations Officer Josef Rieder as HSA's representatives on the Community...

BL10085 HSA President Cindy Stewart has written to Premier Gordon Campbell calling on the government to apply the same factors and considerations that led to a 15 per cent wage increase for MLAs to the governments preparations for setting a wage mandate for other public sector workers, including the health care and community social services workers represented by HSA. -I...

BC HEALTH COALITION The BC Health Coalition has commitments from 113 municipal candidates who have each signed a pledge to protect public health care (list available for download below). As public health care defenders, the candidates have agreed to: Speak out vigorously against the privatization of health care Fight to keep and improve local public health services Advocate for open...

The Report: November / December 2005 vol.26 num.6 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN he old adage -Think globally, act locally" is nicely embodied in the person of Thalia Vesterback. As an HSA Member at Large for Region 9, Vesterback appreciates the opportunities union activism gives her. When she can help improve conditions for herself and colleagues, she is satisfied. Thalia Vesterback Member...

The Report: November / December 2005 vol.26 num.6 by RITU MAHIL A senior colleague of mine has retired and her job has been posted. I would like to apply but the employer has revised the job description and added all sorts of qualifications that were not required before. Could this possibly be the subject of a grievance? Yes. Qualifications must...

The Report: November / December 2005 vol.26 num.6 by CINDY STEWART On November 19, 2005 British Columbians head to the polls again. This time, its to elect mayors, municipal councillors, school trustees, and regional district representatives. In the past several years, HSA members have passed resolutions at annual conventions directing the union to do more to encourage HSA members to...

On November 19, 2005 British Columbians head to the polls to elect mayors, municipal councillors, school trustees, and regional district representatives. These local representatives make decisions that affect our everyday lives, and play a critical role in making our neighbourhoods, towns, and regions places where we want to live. Local politicians also speak up for communities on important local, provincial...

The BC Federation of Labour offers two scholarships for attendance at the 2006 CLC Winter School: The Debra Mills Scholarship (information and application form available for download below) is intended for persons with disabilities to attend a one-week course. See attached course schedule or check the CLC website < http://pacific.clc-ctc.ca/ > for more information. The scholarship will be decided by...