Nurses

HSA will be at the bargaining table May 15 to represent the interests of registered psychiatric nurses as the Nurses Bargaining Association kicks off contract talks. HSA will be represented at the table by Larry Bryan, an RPN at Haro Park Centre and a member of the Provincial Occupational Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee, and a member of the...

Members are advised that Pacific Blue Cross will suspend its pay direct and online claim services for one week to allow for a major transition to an upgraded health and dental system. The services will be suspended from March 27 to April 3, 2014. The Pay Direct Drug Card will not be able to be processed at pharmacies from March...

HSA’s Registered Psychiatric Nurses are encouraged to apply for education funding to cover costs related to participation in the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC (CRPNBC) Annual Education Day scheduled for Friday, May 9 2014 in Coquitlam. The education day – TRAUMA – It Affects Us All - focuses on providing valuable insights into the various forms of trauma...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 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...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 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. Yet for the last several years, HSA and other unions have expended the bulk of their resources and time negotiating contracts with governments intent on imposing austerity terms on public...

Surrey Memorial Hospital RPNs Abi Ologani, Tanya Maksymiw and Amanda Farrand HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 A year ago, Tanya Maksymiw didn't know a lot about HSA. In fact, the RPN didn't know a lot about any unions, despite belonging to one union or the other over the last 20 years. And when HSA staff put on an information meeting on...

All HSA Registered Psychiatric Nurses are reminded that you will have until next Thursday, February 27, 2014 to file a grievance about lack of drug coverage. Decisions about grievance remedies will be made after February 27 once a full review of every individual grievance has been completed. To file a grievance on your behalf HSA requires that you complete the...

83% of HSA RPNs reject raid campaign to date Registered Psychiatric Nurses at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Abbotsford Regional Hospital have voted to stick with HSA despite an aggressive and well-funded raid campaign by the BC Nurses' Union and the Union of Psychiatric Nurses. The results in Surrey and Abbotsford are consistent with dozens of other votes held at worksites...

Re: Pharmacare Tie-in – Grievance and Arbitration Award In the last round of bargaining, the Nurses' Bargaining Association (NBA) agreed to modify the existing drug plan in the collective agreement to include a Pharmacare Tie-in. You were advised of these changes in January 2013. The Pharmacare Tie-in was supposed to go into effect on February 1, 2013. However, as a...

HSA members gathered in Richmond last week to consider HSA members’ priorities for the Nurses Bargaining Association. Wages and benefits are the priorities for HSA’s more than 1,400 registered psychiatric nurses who work under the Nurses Bargaining Association collective agreement. Members called for a fix to the Pharmacare Tie-in implement in the 2012-2014 contract, as well as for improved wages...