HSA'S Heather Maschek, Heidi Coates, Stasia Hasumi and Anne Davis were among the many community social service workers who met in Ottawa.

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015

An arbitrator has ordered employers to use a revised medical information form following a grievance filed by the union bargaining association that represents Community Social Services workers.
 
The new information form offers a balance between an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s right to information.
 

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015

BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN

Stasia Hasumi, a Crisis Intervention Support Worker at the Comox Valley Transition Society, has plenty of high-stress moments at work.

As a front-line worker at a 12-bed transition house for women and children, she needs to respond moment-by-moment to the needs of women facing danger, trauma and severely disrupted lives.

Workers in community social services understand the major issues facing women, especially the core causes and impact of growing inequality in Canada. Are you interested in learning more about engaging members to become involved in advocating for change? HSA invites members to join us for a day of training that combines the opportunity to network with other HSA members working in community social services with training specifically focused on women and women’s issues.
 

CSSEA and the CSSBA held a planning meeting of the Joint Job Evaluation Committee in early December.
 
Purpose
 
Over the next 16 months, the committee will be collecting, reviewing and updating information relative to the Joint Job Evaluation Plan in preparation for the first scheduled distribution of the negotiated Comparability and Anomaly wage increases scheduled for April 1, 2016.
 
What is the Joint Job Evaluation Plan (JJEP)?
 

The following letter from HSA President Val Avery was sent to members December 11, 2014

Dear member,

Assaults on health care workers in Penticton and Kamloops have dominated the news this week. Incidents like these have become all too common in health care settings.

It is time for action.

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014

Name: Alka Kundi.

Nickname in high school: Well, my name is Alka, so the nicknames should be obvious. Alkaseltzer, Alcoholic and Alkatraz. In retrospect, I'm not sure if these were nicknames or if people were just making fun of me, but oh well.

Job title and department: Labour Relations Officer, Servicing.

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014

By David Durning, HSA Senior OHS Officer

Over the years, Canadian workers have fought for and gained important workplace health and safety rights.

The diligent exercise of these rights is proven to be the most effective way of ensuring workplace hazards are controlled.

These rights, enshrined in legislation and regulation, are:

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, how, or if you can return to work.

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?