BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE
Can members expect to see changes in our health and welfare benefits through the new health and welfare trust? It would be good to have additional services like dietitians added to the extended health portion of the plan.
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?
HSA will be at the bargaining table May 15 to represent the interests of registered psychiatric nurses as the Nurses Bargaining Association kicks off contract talks.
HSA will be represented at the table by Larry Bryan, an RPN at Haro Park Centre and a member of the Provincial Occupational Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee, and a member of the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum Working Group.
Also representing RPNs will be experienced negotiator Dani Demetlika, a senior labour relations officer at HSA.
The contract expired March 31.
HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), recently met with employers March 10 to 12 to negotiate a resolution to the approximately 1500 grievances related to the 2013 transition to a 37.5 hour work week. Aided by veteran arbitrators Vince Ready and Corrine Bell, some progress was achieved.
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.
Ok, so we have a five year deal. How do you propose to take advantage of the break from bargaining?
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.
BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD
Q: Now that the collective agreement has been ratified, how will HSA go about moving to a joint governance model for delivering health and welfare benefits? And what does it mean in the short-term?
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.
