Community Health Services and Support

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY JEANNE MEYERS, LABOUR RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES As many members know, the process of transitioning to a 37.5 hour work week has been frustrating. From the beginning, employers have misunderstood and misinterpreted the terms of the negotiated agreement. They have attempted to reduce hours of work, eliminate earned days off and even layoff members. None...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION Negotiating contracts is a big part of what unions do for their members. But it's not the only thing. Yet for the last several years, HSA and other unions have expended the bulk of their resources and time negotiating contracts with governments intent on imposing austerity terms on public...

Members of the multi-union Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) – including almost 800 HSA members -- have voted 78.7% in favour of accepting a new collective agreement with the Health Employers’ Association of BC (HEABC). The five-year collective agreement expires on March 31, 2019 and covers over 15,000 union members working in community health across the province. “BC’s health care...

HOW TO VOTE Community Health members planning to mail in their ballots are advised to get them in the mail ASAP to guarantee the ballots will arrive in time for the cutoff at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2014. In the Lower Mainland, it may take only a day or two to reach the office, but we do recommend...

HOW TO VOTE ON COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES CONTRACT All HSA members covered by the Community Social Services Bargaining Association have been mailed an information package via personal email or Canada Post. Information and voting meetings will be held over the next few weeks, and members are now being contacted with information about where and when they are being held. You...

The Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) reached a tentative agreement in late November for the over 15,000 union members working in the community health sector across the province. It is a five-year agreement effective April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019 and your HSA Board of Directors supports your bargaining committee’s recommendation that members VOTE YES to accept the agreement...

The Community Health Bargaining Association (CBA) has reached a tentative agreement for the more than 15,000 union members working in the community health sector across the province. It is a five-year agreement effective April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019. "This tentative agreement provides stability for the community health sector for the next five years and takes an important first...

HSA members gathered in Richmond last week to consider HSA members’ priorities for bargaining in the Community Health sector. Wages and benefits are the priorities for HSA’s more than 700 members who work under the Community Bargaining Association collective agreement. Members called for a wage increase on par with the cost of living, and a me-too clause that would ensure...

The week of November 19, HSA will hold bargaining proposal conferences related to the four public sector contracts under which members work. Local union meetings are being held for members to discuss proposals for consideration at the conferences, which will set the direction for bargaining new collective agreements. The contracts all expire March 31, 2014. In addition to local proposal...

A policy grievance arbitration over the unprecedented Influenza Control Program Policy introduced by the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC) last August will open tomorrow in Vancouver. In October 2012 the Health Sciences Association of BC, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), filed a policy grievance calling for the withdrawal of the province-wide flu shot policy...