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:
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.
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?
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
Violence in the workplace, workload, health and safety issues are just a few major challenges community social service workers face.
Since 2008, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has recognized November 6 as Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day. Now two provinces and over 125 communities across Canada also recognize November 6 as a day to show our appreciation for the compassionate work community social service workers do.
Ebola Backgrounder
There has never been a case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Canada.
In areas where Ebola is present, the virus can spread through:
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.
