BY JEANNE MEYERS, LABOUR RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES
HSA members can count on extraordinary support from hundreds of stewards around the province, and many of you know them well.
But the stewards themselves depend on a team of labour relations staff who many members will never meet. I'd like to shine a light on their work today.
In the next few days, you'll receive an invitation to participate in a process that is crucial to the future success of your union. Are you ready to take part?
As announced earlier this month, HSA has launched an inclusive and comprehensive planning process to create a five-year strategic plan. The plan will be presented to membership at HSA's Annual Convention in May 2015.
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.
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.
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?
Members are advised that Pacific Blue Cross will suspend its pay direct and online claim services for one week to allow for a major transition to an upgraded health and dental system.
The services will be suspended from March 27 to April 3, 2014.
HSA members are increasingly looking to get their information in a digital format. Whether it's email, web sites or social media, members are using desktop computers, tablets and smartphones to keep informed.
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 of this is allowed by the agreement, which states that managers must work with staff in good faith to develop mutually-agreed schedules.
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.
Community social service workers have voted by 85 per cent in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement that includes wage adjustments and increases of up to 11.5 percent over five years.
The new collective agreement will be in effect from April 1, 2014 until March 31, 2019.
Community Living workers ratified the tentative agreement by 83 per cent. General Services ratified by 91 per cent, and Aboriginal Services ratified by 63 per cent.
