News & Updates

A wage increase will be the top priority when BC's 10,000 health science professionals head to the bargaining table early next year.Cindy Stewart, President of the Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA) says that members of her union sent a clear message during the union's three-day bargaining conference held this week in Vancouver."After nearly a decade of wage controls, our...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by DAN KEETON You might say that Karin Cleven takes her work home with her. After a busy day as a supervisor at SHARE Family & Community Services Society, Cleven plows her energies into securing permanent funding for individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families. Clevens experience in counselling sparked her...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by JUDITH McCORMACK When an employee believes she has been unjustly disciplined, and the grievance is not resolved, who decides if the grievance gets referred to arbitration? What are some of the considerations? The daily diet of a union representative often includes deciding whether discipline grievances should be carried through to arbitration...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by DAN KEETON When Anabel Salazar toured several clinics around northern Vancouver Island and Victoria recently, she was awed by the level of health care services enjoyed by Canadians. But for the Salvadoran activist, the most memorable experience she will take back to her Central American homeland is "the very friendly people...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by CINDY STEWART The shortage of health professionals has reached a crisis point in many BC communities. This problem was recently highlighted in Prince Goerge where physicians and specialists have sounded the alarm about shortages in their field. However, as HSA members know, the problems are beyond the narrow perspective of any...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI Administrative SecretariesWithout the Administrative Secretaries, the HSA office would likely grind to a halt. Their daily efforts facilitate the work of the labour relations staff, and HSA members enjoy the result: consistent, quality service. Each of HSAs Administrative Secretaries balances a variety of duties, and supports the work of...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI When the Salvation Army decided to close Wiseman House last fall, HSA members acted quickly to secure assurances that the program would stay open until the spring. Labour Relations Officer Josef Rieder said this allowed the program to continue for a while, and also allowed our members to explore...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI How far would you go to help cure lung diseases? How about 5000 kilometres, across North America? On a bike? Thats what Recreation Therapist Cindy Bouvet is doing right now, as this magazine goes to press. She is taking part in The Big Ride Across America, joining a group...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI Its time that health professionals in therapy, counselling, and rehabilitation receive recognition for the skills, training and expertise that they bring to their jobs. This expertise can often makes a real difference with respect to health outcomes and a patients quality of life. Thats the message HSA is sending...

VANCOUVER - An interprovincial meeting of unions representing more than 75,000 health care professionals wrapped up an annual two-today conference today by calling for a national strategy to address the Canada-wide shortage of health professionals and the growing trend toward privatization."It is important for the federal government to realize that the shortage of health care professionals is not limited to...