News & Updates

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 What does your union do well? what do you think HSA needs to improve? what should it look like in 2020? In a contantly changing world, HSA needs to keep up. The bargaining landscape is more challenging. Members are dealing with more work and less time to be active in the union. External threats consume greater...

HSA Report, March 2015 The BC Federation of Labour is encouraging union members and all Metro Vancouver residents to vote yes in the upcoming spring transit referendum. "The Mayors' Council Transportation Plan will benefit transit users and drivers alike by reducing their travel time and overall congestion in the region," said Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY CAROL RIVIERE, HSA COMMUNICATIONS The results of the 2015 federal election will have a critical impact on many issues, but none more so than health care. Canada's federal government was essential in establishing our public health care system. It continues to have a crucial leadership role to play in improving and expanding Medicare. Leadership is...

Pacific Blue Cross has circulated a bulletin explaining changes which may affect the Pharmacare coverage for some members. Please read the full memo to see if this affects you. The changes take effect April 1. You can contact Pacific Blue Cross with any questions at 604 419-2600 or 1-888-275-4672 (toll-free).

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN For many cancer patients, getting enough to eat is a challenge. At a time when being well-nourished is so essential, they face an array of challenging symptoms – mouth sores, taste changes, changes in saliva, nausea, vomiting, swallowing problems, constipation, and more, all potential side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation. And certain cancers, in...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 The 37.5 hour work week first took effect on September 1, 2013, and over the course of that fall HSA filed a significant number of grievances on behalf of members impacted by the implementation. In the 18 months since then, a lot has happened. The 37.5 hour work week was proposed by the Health Employers Association...

Photo by Leif Norman HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 ChildCare 2020 was the first national child care policy conference in a decade and the fourth such conference in Canada's history. The first was held in 1971 in conjunction with the growing women's rights movement. The second, in 1982, founded what is now the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada. The third...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE Can members expect to see changes in our health and welfare benefits through the new health and welfare trust? It would be good to have additional services like dietitians added to the extended health portion of the plan. We are far from a point where any changes to...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER Diagnostic Medical Sonographers – workers who specialize in the use of imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans and videos – have always been at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Those injuries include tendonitis, bursitis and muscle and nerve damage to hands, arms, elbows, shoulders, necks and backs. HSA...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015 BY VAL AVERY, HSA PRESIDENT Workload and stress are among the most serious workplace challenges of our time. As a union, we're seeing an increasing number of members, from all professions, paying a terrible price for this. Compromised performance, increased illness and disability wreak havoc on professionals, their families, and the health care system itself. We...