2022 is off to a busy start for HSA with preparations underway for contract negotiations for members working in health care and community social services. Contracts covering more than 20,000 members are set to expire March 31, 2022.
 
Also coming up in 2022 is the union’s annual convention April 28-30, planned to be held in person in Vancouver. In the lead-up to the convention, Board of Directors elections are also scheduled, with nominations closing on February 10.
 

Facility level data needed to push government for stronger protections against Omicron
 
Since the onset of the pandemic, HSA has been pushing government to protect health science and community social service professionals on the front lines.
 

As health science professionals and other health care workers continue to experience crushing workloads caused by long-standing shortages, which continue to be exacerbated by health care staff absences because of the accelerated spread of Covid-19 at health care worksites, HSA is calling on the Ministry of Health to ensure enhanced precautions are put in place.
 
In addition, the union rejects suggestions that health care workers may be expected to report to work even if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
 

With BC entering the third state of provincial emergency of 2021, HSA is offering financial assistance to members who are being displaced from their homes due to overland flooding in Abbotsford, Merritt and Princeton. 
 

Monday, October 25^th is an important day to make the case for paid sick leave for all.
 
HSA members are invited to participate in a Covid-safe Day of Action at the provincial legislature in Victoria and at SkyTrain stations in Burnaby and Surrey to call on Premier John Horgan and the BC government to lead the country and enshrine 10 days of paid sick leave as a right for all workers.
 
HSA President Kane Tse will join the action in Surrey at the Surrey Central Skytrain station at 4 p.m.
 

Are you a young HSA member (35 and under) interested in increased young worker participation in the union?

The union’s board of directors is seeking members aged 35 and younger to get involved in HSA's Young Workers’ Advisory Group.

The Advisory Group’s purpose is to

This September 30^th, 2021 is the first year that the federal government has declared a statutory holiday to mark Truth and Reconciliation. In past years, September 30^th has been marked as Orange Shirt Day.  This date was chosen out of recognition that it was typically late September / early October that the federal government’s Indian Agents came for the children.
 

The following information is being shared from the Community Savings Credit Union:

To help ease the burden of evacuations and loss, Community Savings Credit Union is providing up to $15,000 of financial support to help union members impacted by wildfires. Community Savings Credit Union will provide $500 in funds directly to individual union members that require assistance.

A message from HSA President Kane Tse

HSA MEMBERS URGED TO VOTE IN SEPTEMBER 20th FEDERAL ELECTION

A federal election has been called for September 20^th and the outcome will have a significant impact on the health care and community social services that HSA members provide. The Parliament that we elect will also be able to act on the issues that HSA members have identified as important to them, like climate action, child care, and pharmacare.