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Ingrid Hakanson, respiratory therapist

September 26, 2014
THE REPORT, OCTOBER 2014 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN When Vancouver General Hospital Respiratory Therapist Ingrid Hakanson heard that a film crew would be coming into her workplace to make a documentary about the emergency ward, she had no idea she'd end up as a 'star' in a high-quality TV show that put health science professionals like herself at centre stage.

Your pension makes you a pretty savvy investor

September 26, 2014
THE REPORT, OCTOBER 2014 As a member of HSA, you're practicing smart investment strategies every day. Every two weeks, you invest in your future through your pension plan. You're not spending that money on another latte. You do not have all your eggs in one basket. In fact, you have a diversified real estate portfolio – and it's a great example of responsible investing.

OHS conference sets priorities to make you safer

September 26, 2014
BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER HSA’s Occupational Health and Safety Conference held in June provided a great opportunity for OHS activists to connect with each other, share information and plan for the future. Keynote speakers Dr. Joti Samra and Al Bieksa contributed significantly to a two-day event designed to provide tools, resources and planning opportunities for nearly 100 HSA joint occupational health and safety committee representatives from all across the province.

"Your union helped save my life"

September 26, 2014
HSA REPORT OCTOBER 2014 My name is Mike Pond. I'm five years sober this week and your union helped save my life. When I received my Masters in Social Work in 1995, I thought my days as a psychiatric nurse were behind me. But life has a way of throwing us curve balls. After two decades of successfully helping clients battle addictions, I succumbed to one myself. In a catastrophic free-fall, I lost everything: my practice, my home and my family. What made it worse: as a therapist I was ably positioned to watch myself fall and powerless to prevent it.

Basic Steward Training - November 2014

September 19, 2014
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 a 3-day Basic Steward Training workshop at the HSA office this fall: Dates:  November 3, 4 and 5Location:  HSA Office, 300 – 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver

HSA stands in solidarity with BC teachers

September 9, 2014
BC public sector unions are sending a message to the Premier that they stand in solidarity with BC teachers and are urging her to accept the proposal for binding arbitration. “The Premier is attempting to use other settlements in the public sector to create a divide among workers in the province,” said Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour. “This tactic is not only an insult to working people in BC, but it also shows how little the Premier understands and respects the collective bargaining process.”

HSPBA / HEABC Recruitment and Retention Committee begins work

September 9, 2014
  During the last round of HSPBA/HEABC collective bargaining, the parties agreed to create a joint union/employer committee to identify and address recruitment and retention challenges in health science professions that are experiencing shortages, or other recruitment and retention issues.

These 4 things can improve mental health services for kids in BC

September 5, 2014
Did you know that some health authority staff like youth counsellors are not allowed to text their patients? Is there any other way to communicate with a young person?

New poll shows support for teachers still strong, especially among parents

August 27, 2014
Vancouver – A new Insights West poll commissioned by the B.C. Federation of Labour (BCFED) shows that parents support BC’s teachers 2-to-1 in the current dispute with the BC Liberal Government, and agree with teachers on key issues at the heart of the ongoing negotiations.