A MESSAGE FROM JEANNE MEYERS, HSA LABOUR RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2013

As this issue of The Report goes to press, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association has reached a tentative agreement for a renewed contract running from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019.

The proposed five-year agreement has a number of elements that I and the bargaining committee believe meet the needs of health science professionals.

A MESSAGE FROM HSA PRESIDENT VAL AVERY

THE REPORT, DECEMBER 2013

HSA and other unions have been hunkered down in ceaseless and difficult negotiations for almost five years.

The effort has expended enormous resources – resources that we need to focus on helping members deal with their daily workplace challenges.

So when mediators approached HSA and other unions about early negotiations for a five-year deal, we decided to listen.

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2013

BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN

By any standards, Edith MacHattie's job is immensely challenging.

The school-aged children she works with as an Occupational Therapist at Surrey's Centre for Child Development are the most medically complex kids.

HSA will hold a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday, December 5, to update members on the tentative agreement reached earlier this month.

The phone call is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST and will last an hour. You will have an opportunity to hear from your negotiators and ask and hear questions and answers about the contract.

It's easy. You just have to be at home at 7 p.m., and you will be connected to the call.

With more than 1,000 grievances over the implementation of the 37.5 hour work week last year, HSPBA and HEABC have agreed to give jurisdiction to arbitrator Vince Ready to design and arbitrate a process to expedite the grievances.

A case management  meeting will be scheduled early in the new year, and it is  anticipated that hearings will begin shortly thereafter.

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2013

In late November, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association reached a tentative agreement for the 17,000 health science professionals delivering modern health care in BC's hospitals and communities.

All HSA members covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association will shortly receive an information package, ballot, and instructions for how to vote by mail.

In the meantime, HSA is organizing a series of information meetings.

• Upcoming information meetings

More meetings are being planned; check this site for updates.

HSA Chief Stewards met in Vancouver today to discuss the tentative agreement reached for health science professionals. Stewards also gathered to discuss the negotiations on September 19.

The complete tentative agreement is now available here:

Stewards for health science professionals met in September to discuss the contract negotiations

Ratification vote to be held by mail-in ballot

The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association has reached a tentative agreement for the 17,000 health science professionals delivering modern health care in BC's hospitals and communities.

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.