Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations

Despite a province-wide protest by parents against the elimination of specialized treatment for severely autistic children, 43 therapists were issued lay-off notice Friday at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children on Vancouver Island. The therapists are members of the Health Sciences Association of BC, the union that represents 16,000 health science professionals including autism intervention specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language...

December 6 this year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Montréal massacre of 14 young women at the École Polytechnique. Violence against women is still pervasive, and is rooted in social inequality. HSA members working in transition houses all across BC tell us that violence against women occurs at home and at work. Women living in violent situations often...

Did you know? 8 million Canadian workers have no pension or RRSP savings. Date: Thursday, November 5 Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Justice Institute Theatre715 McBride BoulevardNew Westminster, BC Coffee and Refreshments will be available. For more information call (604) 430-6766 Printer-friendly poster

OTTAWA ... An announcement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on regulations dealing with federally-regulated pensions is welcome but will have little if any immediate impact upon the pension security that Canadians are looking for, says Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. -These changes result from consultations the government has held over the past year and some of them...

Moms on the Move is holding a provincial day of protest tomorrow, October 28, to remind BC Premier Gordon Campbell of his promise to build the best system of supports forchildren with special needs in Canada. In the past several weeks, cuts to funding have been announced in a number of programs, including: eliminating early intensive intervention programs, denying therapy...

The provincial government has just announced that seasonal flu vaccine will be administered at the same time as the vaccine for H1N1. Prior to this, the government planned to offer the seasonal vaccine only after the H1N1 vaccination program was complete. H1N1 vaccination for high-risk groups will begin next week. HSA has concerns about the decision to administer the two...

By James ClancyNational Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) Ottawa - We're long overdue for serious tax reform in this country. Most Canadians agree on this. But the new unfair Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario and BC is not what most of us had in mind. Earlier this year the Harper government reached agreements with Ontario and BC...

The H1N1 vaccine has just been approved for use across Canada and the vaccination program for BC will begin shortly. This approval is based upon positive results of clinical trials of the vaccine in Europe. As with any seasonal flu vaccination campaign HSA encourages members to participate. Vaccination is an integral part of the prevention against serious health risk. Health...

HSA President Reid Johnson will join concerned families at a rally to save services for children in Kelowna Sunday, Oct. 18. Date: Sunday, October 18 Time: 11 a.m.Place: Kerry Park (The Sails) Downtown KelownaFor information about how to get involved, contact @email Download rally poster here

Labour Relations Board rules USW pickets cant block workers or patients Members of United Steel Workers (Local 2009) are fighting for a fair collective agreement with Compass Canada. The members are amongst the lowest paid workers in the health sector, and are fighting for equality with other workers doing the same work. In September, the Labour Relations Board ruled that...