News & Updates

The Hospital Employees' Union issued 72-hour strike notice late Friday as HEU members in the contracted support service sector continue to bargain for a fair deal. Union members are now in a legal position to take job action to back their demands in bargaining. B.C. hospital housekeeping and dietary workers gave their union bargaining committee an almost unanimous strike mandate...

Unions and the labour movement are a huge force for positive change for union members, workers and society as a whole. We owe everything from safe worksites, paid vacations, pensions, universal health care and much more to our unions. Come out and celebrate everything we have achieved, and that we continue to work for, together in the labour movement. Solidarity...

HELP COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE In communities across BC, thousands of people are suffering BC’s worst forest fire season in many years. Health care professionals, including members of HSA, have stepped up by asking how they can work to help their colleagues deliver health in affected regions. The Ministry of Health, working with HealthLink BC, has responded by creating a...

“The BC Federation of Labour believes strongly that human rights are workers’ rights, and that systemic discrimination of marginalized workers needs to be addressed at the highest level,” said Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour. see full release here: http://bcfed.ca/news/releases/bcfed-welcomes-re-establishment-bc-human-…

HSA's annual regional fall meetings have been scheduled for September and October 2014. Regional meetings are an excellent forum for HSA members to review the issues and activities of the past year, and to discuss the opportunitie and challenges that lie ahead for the union. Delegates from in odd-numbered regions will also elect Members-at-Large to represent them on union committees...

Members of CUPE Local 1816 have been involved in a lengthy labour dispute with Pacific Blue Cross over the company’s decision to claw back retiree benefits for current employees. PBC has refused to withdraw this serious concession and will not attend the bargaining table unless the union accepts the concession. Since July 7, these workers have been locked out by...

BC FED Young Workers' School at Camp Jubilee - Registration Now Open Are you a young worker 30 years and younger who wants to get more involved in your union, the labour movement, and the social justice work unions are involved in? Registration for the BC Federation of Labour’s Annual Young Workers’ School is now open. It is a weekend...

HSA's Board and Directors has made a donation of $15,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help support the thousands of British Columbians affected by the BC wildfires. The donation matches the $15,000 donated by HSA's national union, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). More than 40,000 British Columbians -- including HSA members -- have been evacuated...

I am writing during an incredibly frightening time for many British Columbians, and am reaching out to HSA members in the areas hit by wild fires to let you know your union is thinking of you, and we are here to assist you as needed. Our thoughts are with residents, emergency crews, and the health care and social services workers...

Unionized staff have been locked out at Pacific Blue Cross, the extended health benefits provider for thousands of HSA members. Negotiations for a new contract started several months ago, and the union reports that the employer is demanding concessions, including rolling back retiree benefits. As the dispute escalates, Pacific Blue Cross has continued to advance concession proposals. Union members had...