Nurses

During two weeks of bargaining for a new provincial contract (April 16-27), negotiators for the Nurses Bargaining Association and Health Employers Association of BC debated three key issues without coming to a resolution.Negotiators will pick up discussions when bargaining resumes next month. The issues debated are:1. Health authority-wide seniority will improve nurses mobility and ensure nurses can maximize the value...

The East Kootenay and District Labour Council is holding a one-day education session Saturday April 28. The workshops include "Stress in the Workplace," "Pensions," and "Young Worker Education." For more information and registration: Workshop Information Registration

The elected bargaining committee for the Nurses Bargaining Association has completed two more weeks of negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (March 19-30), with discussions focusing on four issues: 1. Responsive Shift Scheduling: Discussion with employers about how to improve shift scheduling to respond to employees needs when scheduling shifts. 2. Alternative Dispute Resolution Process (ADR): An agreement...

After a month of talks, nurses have made several gains from issues arising out of the 2009 contract extension and from employer cost savings from disability management. As of April 1, 2012, the waiting period for Long Term Disability eligibility will be reduced from five months to four months. For members waiting for LTD who have no source of employment...

A recent article in The Report contained incomplete information about tax deductions. The potential for deducting for LTD premiums only applies if you are on an accepted LTD claim. A member who is on an accepted LTD claim may be able to claim on their tax returns for LTD premiums they have previously paid. Whether they are eligible to do...

HSA members have reconfirmed that concessions on extended and dental benefits are not negotiable. After learning that government appears to be set to propose to save money by getting health care workers to pay for some of their health and dental benefits, HSA conducted an informal telephone survey of members on the weekend to alert members to this pending proposal...

The Report: February 2012 vol.33 num.1 Collective agreements covering the vast majority of HSA members working in health sciences and community social services expire on March 31, and HSAs negotiators have already begun work on the next agreements. HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS Bargaining for the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association was scheduled to begin February 27. HSA priorities for bargaining were...

Ensuring the safety of patients in BCs health care facilities is the priority for nurses, as they began bargaining this week for a new contract with the provinces health authorities. HSAs Registered Psychiatric Nurses are represented by Lions Gate RPN Val Barker and Senior Labour Relations Officer Pat Blomme. HSA President Reid Johnson said psychiatric nurses want to ensure they...

Representatives of the Provincial Nurses Bargaining Association ... including Registered Psychiatric Nurses represented by HSA ... are heading to the bargaining table this week. The constituent unions are meeting today. Bargaining with the employer begins January 24-25. More bargaining dates are set February 20-24. RPN & Lions Gate Hospital Chief Steward Val Barker will represent HSA RPNs, along with Senior...

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...