Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations

The Report: December 2011 vol.32 num.4 -HOW WILL I TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY if I get sick, or become unable to work?" Thats a question that hovers in the back of almost everyones mind. We assume that our health benefits will take care of us, and for the most part, they do. For many years, however, disability management programs...

On Saturday, November 19, 2011 British Columbians head to the polls to elect mayors, municipal councillors, school trustees, and regional district representatives. These local representatives make decisions that affect our everyday lives, and play a critical role in making our neighbourhoods, towns, and regions places where we want to live. Local politicians are also an important voice for our communities...

The Occupy movement is here to stay. It will morph into something else. But its not going away until there are serious reforms to our economy and democracy, says NUPGE President James Clancy in a commentary.

The Canadian Labour Congress is giving away some great prizes to whoever comes up with the best ad about the basic unfairness that sees the tax burden shifted away from profitable corporations and onto ordinary working people as their governments cut services, eliminate programs and hike user fees to balance the books. Clever, creative, ironic or with a sense of...

Q: What is the Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering (LM BME) consolidation project? At the direction of the Ministry of Health in 2009, the health authorities were given areas to consolidate services in an attempt to save costs. Providence was given responsibility for merging Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering services from three health authorities -- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority...

Partners in the Horn of Africa is holding a fundraiser for -Hope for Children," Ethiopias leading charity improving the lives of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Place: Vancouver Rowing Club, 450 Stanley Park Drive Tickets: $40.00 Guest Speaker: Yewoinshet Masresha (6:30 p.m.)Founder and Executive Director, Hope for Children, Ethiopia...

Community Social Service workers are essential to building strong communities and making life better for families and individuals. Yet workers in this sector are often as invisible as the members of the society they support. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has made a commitment to raise the profile of community social service workers. NUPGE is joining...

Rallies, sit-ins, and occupations will be held in cities across the United States and Canada this Saturday in support of fair taxes. In Vancouver, members of the labour movement will show our support by joining Occupy Vancouver events at 12:00 noon at the Vancouver Art Gallery with a march at 1:00 p.m. What is a Robin Hood Tax? The Robin...

The B.C. Federation of Labour will gather at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 15, 2011 in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street Movements Call for good jobs, fair taxes and strong public services. HSA members are encouraged to support the BC Federation of Labour's show of solidarity. More information: BC Fed News Release www.occupyvancouver.com

HSA President Reid Johnson is not optimistic about media reports for a -new government mandate" for collective bargaining in 2012 after yesterdays Throne Speech from the BC government. -The government clearly signaled yesterday that its prepared to pay lip service to the women and men who deliver the public services, like health care, that British Columbians depend on. But there...