News & Updates

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 Professional recognition days, weeks and months come and go. Posters go up on bulletin boards, posts go up on social media sites. Maybe there’s cupcakes. It’s a great chance to educate and celebrate the work that makes our health care and community social service systems work, but it’s getting harder to break through the noise and...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By Val Avery, President HSA's first office was a little place on Kingsway. As the number of members grew steadily, so did the need to find new space. We soon moved to an office on Hastings at Boundary, staying there until 1994, when we moved to Metrotown. Only a few years later, in 1998, we moved...

HSA members are encouraged to take advantage of 3 opportunities to hear Dr. Danielle Martin speak in Vancouver this week. Dr. Martin helped launch Canadian Doctors for Medicare, and last spring defended Canada's health care system before a US Senate Committee. She holds several medical and academic positions, and is an in-demand speaker on the future of health care in...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By Laura Busheikin There's no doubt that having to take time off work due to an injury or illness brings a multitude of challenges. Aside from the medical demands, there are forms to fill out and anxiety around getting the proper benefits. There are often feelings of isolation. There is the uncertainty of not knowing when...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By Carol Riviere, Communications Deep ties to her community and long-time union activism helped HSA vice-president Janice Morrison secure a spot on Nelson city council in the recent municipal election. "My family have lived here since the 1920's, and I've served my community in many different ways in the 25 years I've called Nelson home," says...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 by Dennis Blatchford, Pensions and Benefits Advocate I'm advised by Pacific Blue Cross that fertility drugs are not covered under the new 50 per cent cost share arrangement for non-PharmaCare formulary medications. Why are these drugs not covered? The agreement on the 50/50 cost share on non-PharmaCare formulary medications did not sweep in classes of drugs...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By David Durning, HSA Senior OHS Officer Are you concerned about health and safety in your workplace? Do you want to be directly involved in making your workplace safer for you and your co-workers? Do you want to participate in union and employer sponsored training to learn about making your workplace safer? If you answered yes...

Please make a note of our contact information effective Jan. 5, 2015: Health Sciences Association of BC 180 East Columbia Street New Westminster, BC V3L 0G7 New Phone: 604 517 0994 / toll free 800 663 2017 New Fax: 604 515 8889 / toll free 800 663 6119

One of Canada's best labour schools, held at Harrison Hot Springs, in January and February 2015 The CLC Winter School offers a wide variety of week-long, quality labour oriented courses. To support HSA's ability to represent HSA members effectively and help build a stronger union, members can apply to take courses chosen to meet these objectives. HSA offers a number...

A vote has been ordered by the Labour Relations Board today at Chilliwack General Hospital. Please take the time to vote today to stay in HSA. HSA has fought for the recognition RPNs deserve in a specialized field. Without HSA at the bargaining table and fighting for the rights of RPNs, there would be fewer opportunities to do the work...