News & Updates

HSA lawyers Tonie Beharrell and Randy Noonan and HEU’s Kaity Cooper appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada today to challenge the decision of the BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal to overturn a decision of the BC Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT). The WCAT had recognized three cases of breast cancer contracted at Mission Memorial Hospital as...

Educational Objective: To explore the issue of social justice and some of the efforts HSA and its partners are undertaking to bring about just conditions both locally and globally. Target Audience: All members interested in social justice. Workshop Goals: Provide a history of HSA’s Committee on Equality and Social Action (CESA Committee) Understand what social justice means for HSA/union members...

HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), has now concluded negotiations for a labour adjustment plan with PHSA . This labour adjustment plan will address the implementation of the PHSA laboratory technical leadership redesign in the most supportive and respectful manner for our laboratory technologists. Lab stewards and members have done an exemplary job at articulating...

…Therefore be it resolved HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2016 HSA Convention May 6 & 7, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. The Convention Plenary will begin on May 5 at 1:00 pm. Convention is the union's annual meeting where chapter representatives from around the province determine the union's future direction. Policies, actions, constitutional amendments...

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 for educating new stewards in these areas, HSA is offering four 3-day Basic Steward Training workshops at the HSA office as follows: Dates: January 11–13, 2016 January 25-27, 2016 February 22–24, 2016 April...

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies. Two aboriginal bursaries will be awarded to aboriginal students in BC. The criteria and details are set out on the application forms available here. Completed application forms and transcripts...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 When laboratory technologist John Bhullar was first asked to consider taking over the work of a retired steward, he thought he wasn't up for the job. "I preferred to be in the background," he said. Besides, with over 1000 members from a wide range of professions, stewards at Vancouver's Children's Hospital had a huge responsibility...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HSA For most members, their first contact with our union is through a steward. These are the members who spend countless hours helping their colleagues at the worksite. HSA staff are unmatched in their expertise and experience, but they rely on our network of stewards to solve daily problems at hundreds...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 Children with disabilities face a lot of challenges, but with support in the early years, many can overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Now imagine the heartbreak of the parents who learn that funding shortfalls will keep their kids from getting that help – until it's too late. That's the reality for many families...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER A recent survey of emergency department staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital indicated that more than half of those who had recently experienced violence on the job didn't report those events. This finding supports other similar surveys and anecdotal evidence from HSA members indicating that underreporting of violence and aggression...