Bill 7, the Laboratory Services Act was introduced in the BC Legislature by the Liberal government on February 17, 2014, and is currently at the stage of first reading.
The proposed legislation makes significant changes in several areas, including the legislative framework, governance and funding models for medical laboratory services. A general overview of these changes is available here on the HSA website.
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.
Several HSA members are working with their professional associations to encourage the provincial government to regulate their professions under the Health Professions Act, and to create a joint regulatory college to oversee the practice of these health science professions. Approximately 6,000 HSA members would be regulated by this joint college.
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?
Under the 2014-2019 collective agreement recently ratified by health science professionals, improvements in drug coverage are now in effect.
Every member covered by the Health Science Professionals contract should be receiving a letter outlining the changes from Pacific Blue Cross in the coming days. A sample letter is attached here.
With more than 1,500 grievances filed by health science professionals over the implementation of the 37.5 hour work week last year, three initial days of expedited hearings have now been scheduled to hear the grievances through a process negotiated and agreed to by HSPBA and HEABC.
Health science professionals have voted 76 per cent in favour of accepting a new five-year contract.
The agreement was reached in advance of the expiry of the current agreement, set to run out on March 31, 2014.
The Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association tentative agreement has been amended to reflect two developments that have flowed out of review and discussion of the agreement.
