News & Updates

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT It wasn't easy to figure out what was going on during election night, but it was apparent right away that BC had voted for change. The unprecedented results left the province in a sort of limbo for several weeks and even now, as this issue goes to print, a lot of...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 Nobody can remember a provincial election like this one. Most election results can be called about an hour after the polls close on election day. This one left people guessing for weeks. And while the exceptionally close results mean it’s hard to predict what will happen in the longer term, the governing agreement between the...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN When respiratory therapist John Hindle first got involved in HSA as a shop steward, his goal was fairly modest. "I just wanted to help resolve some problems at my workplace," says Hindle. But once he started learning about union issues, Hindle wanted more. A year or so later, Hindle found himself fully...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 Recognition of diversity is now essential to the health of our society and the strength of organizations. Today, leading institutions seek to understand the unique experience of their members in order to better represent and serve them. HSA has long sought to understand and respect the diversity of our members, and in March, almost 800...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 HSA President Val Avery was invited to speak as a special guest at the Early Childhood Educators of BC conference in May. HSA served as a sponsor for the conference and Avery took part in a panel discussion on building professionalism. "As a union, we are commited to working to advocate for the many professions...

Please note: training dates for 2018 will be posted soon Registration Information: Stewards may register by logging into My Events Registration . Workshops will be listed under Steward Education events. Basic Steward Training Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In recognition of the need...

HSA offers and provides access to scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children throughout the year. Please note below the announcement of a new scholarship, a reminder of approaching deadlines, and a reminder of an open call for an HSA scholarship. *New* CLC/UWCC POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP Through HSA's affiliation with the CLC members are eligible to apply for the...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BC NDP Leader John Horgan pledged to fight for public servants during a speech to HSA convention delegates in May. "The people in this room, and the people outside this room, who work every day for a living, have not had someone watching their back," said Horgan. "I will have your back, and I'll be...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BY GERI GRIGG HSA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER On March 13, the Toronto Star printed an article calling the incidence of violence toward health and social services workers an epidemic. HSA disagrees. The incidents of violence occurring in all HSA worksites, without a common cause is a pandemic. An epidemic happens when a single...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE I received HSA's recent clarification on payroll changes and the reference to members' long-term disability contributions now being directed to the new Joint Health Sciences Benefit Trust (JHSBT). Since the JHSBT is now receiving benefit contributions, I'm wondering what members might expect now. The new JHSBT did...