News & Updates

I know that all of you are working tirelessly at jobs that have changed dramatically over the course of just a few weeks. As front line health care workers, you have the additional stresses of worrying about your personal health and safety, being separated from family, and not knowing where you may be redeployed to work. We have heard you...

Are you an essential health care worker in Greater Victoria? The United Way of Greater Victoria has teamed up with Accent Inns to provide free rooms for health care workers who need a place to stay. See the details here: https://uwgv.ca/news/show-your-local-love-to-our-frontline-service-supe…

HSA is gathering information from HSA OHS stewards and joint committee members about how the Joint Occupational Health and Safety committees are functioning at worksites during the current COVID-19 pandemic. WorkSafe BC has confirmed these committees must continue to function during the pandemic. Please take 2-3 minutes to complete the survey to inform how we can all work to ensure...

Coverage rules have changed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic The HBT team is working closely with Pacific Blue Cross to ensure employees have accessto Tele-Health and Virtual services to support ongoing care during COVID-19 social distancing initiatives. NEW FOR EMPLOYEES: Reimbursement for Tele-Physiotherapy and Tele-Chiropractic Treatment Reimbursement is available to ALL employees who receive benefits: Tele-Physiotherapy and Tele-Chiropractic treatments...

It's clear that Canadians believe more help is required to ensure no one goes without housing or is financially gutted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Co., on behalf of the Natonal Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), its Component, the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) and North99, conducted its first poll on this subject...

The 2019-2022 Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) Collective Agreement includes a provision (Article 60) that requires health authorities (HA) and Providence Health Care (PHC) to implement a direct patient care staffing assessment process. Implementation of this new contract language is intended to be a collaborative process, where local level managers and in-charge nurses determine immediate (short-term) staffing requirements. Over the last...

The “working short” premium, negotiated for nurses in the last round of bargaining, has been reworked in a deal between the BC Nurses Union and the employer to pay nurses a premium during the COVID-19 pandemic at least through to the end of April, if not longer. The working short premium was intended to be a penalty on employers who...

**UPDATED MARCH 30 4 PM: WORKSITE PREFERENCE WEBSITE REOPENS TONIGHT 6-10 PM FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE UNABLE TO REGISTER OVER WEEKEND** The Provincial Health Officer has ordered that movement between worksites by health care workers must be limited to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the current pandemic. Over the weekend, thousands of employees were able to register their...

To: HSA members working in community social services From: HSA and Community Social Services Bargaining Associaton On March 26, 2020 the BC Government used their extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act, to issue ministerial orders to ensure a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic across all levels of government. These orders have direct implications for workers in the Community...

Starting the evening of March 26, Health Authority Employers have begun to survey employees about their child care needs starting next Monday, March 30. Check your employer email for details. To date, HSA is aware of processes in VIHA and PHSA. Contact your employer for details on how to register your child care needs. Provincial Medical Health Officer Dr. Bonnie...