Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations

Update (December 2022) Subsequent to Arbitrator Hall’s decision (and monetary award to HSA) it quickly became clear that HEABC as the employer was determined to appeal the decision, delaying and perhaps preventing this money from benefiting members. During bargaining the parties agreed to consider the damage award to be annualized funding allocated to the classification redesign. This negotiated outcome replaced...

In 2021, the Government of Canada declared September 30 the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. The declaration responds to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action No. 80, which calls for the creation of a statutory day “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital...

HSA President Kane Tse today welcomed news that the BC government is adding 322 new training spots for health science professions facing dire shortages, and providing bursaries for internationally-educated health science professionals looking to join the BC workforce. “Heavy workload and growing shortages of specialized health professionals have pushed the health care system to the brink,” said Tse. “HSA has...

Since its launch, the Emergency Health Provider Registry (EHPR) has adapted to respond to health system emergencies (including floods, wildfires, and other climate-change related disasters) and the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 people are currently registered with the EHPR and the Ministry of Health is undertaking a refresh of the system to update registrant information and improve our capacity to...

Please note that applications for this fund are not yet open. Members will be notified when application forms are available. The Health Sciences Association of BC is pleased to announce $3 million in new funding for professional development of health science professionals. The new funding, secured from the BC Ministry of Health, is the latest in the union’s long-standing program...

With growing shortages of specialized health care professionals causing unsustainable workload issues and affecting the quality and timeliness of patient care in BC, Health Sciences Association welcomes a new provincial program to help MRI technologist students graduate earlier and enter the workforce sooner. The program will support training and recruitment of badly-needed MRI technologists but providing bursaries to students in...

It has been just under two years since HSA completed an extensive survey of racialized members and their experiences of racism at work, the final results of which were released as the “Confronting Racism with Solidarity” report. The report “In Plain Sight” authored by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and her investigation into anti-Indigenous racism within BC’s health care system was released...

Nearly 300 delegates from facilities across British Columbia attended HSA’s first in-person convention since 2019, debating resolutions on diverse issues and protesting to raise public awareness of shortage and workload issues. The event was held in Vancouver April 28-30. “Never in our lifetimes have we struggled though a public health crisis like this one,” said HSA President Kane Tse in...

Each year on April 28 we gather to recognize and grieve the people who have suffered workplace-related illness, injury, or death. Every single working person deserves to return home safe at the end of the day to their family and loved ones, but for too many workers, this is still not the case. This day is especially meaningful to us...

Union urges changes based on front line pandemic experience of members In a submission to the BC government’s official review of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Sciences Association of BC has urged the BC government to consider a number of recommendations related to improve infection control measures, workplace safety and professional shortages. HSA’s submission to the “COVID-19...