Nurses

HSA RPNs are encouraged to register for an upcoming one-day conference on violence in the health care sector September 16 presented by ProActive ReSolutions and WorkSafeBC.The conference, to be held in Vancouver at SFU – Harbour Centre, will focus on strengthening understanding of warning signs and risk factors for a wide range of violent behavior, and learning about best practices...

Just last week we were alerted to another instance of violence in the workplace. Another RPN was assaulted on the job. These situations are all too common. But violence in the workplace does not need to be inevitable. We know that workplace violence can be prevented with proper planning, protocols and procedures that involve meaningful input from frontline health care...

Following the successful launch of the pilot project in April, the Enhanced Disability Management Program for affiliate employers is expanding once again. EDMP, which is already supporting thousands of HSA members working in health authorities, has a proven track record of helping members who are absent from work due either to a work-related or non-work related illness or injury, or...

VANCOUVER – CUPE 873-03 served 72-hour strike notice to SN Transport yesterday after attempts to reach a first collective agreement failed. The union represents 115 workers who provide patient transfer services in the Lower Mainland. “From the moment this group of workers joined CUPE and we started bargaining their first agreement, the employer has resisted and used foot dragging tactics,”...

The BC Labour Relations Board has ruled that workers and patients were put at risk by dangerous tactics used by BC Nurses' Union (BCNU) organizers in December. The BCNU organizers were attempting to convince registered psychiatric nurses to leave their union, Health Sciences Association of BC. "The BCNU has demonstrated once again that they are more interested in increasing their...

Pacific Blue Cross has circulated a bulletin explaining changes which may affect the Pharmacare coverage for some members. Please read the full memo to see if this affects you. The changes take effect April 1. You can contact Pacific Blue Cross with any questions at 604 419-2600 or 1-888-275-4672 (toll-free).

The following letter from HSA President Val Avery was sent to members December 11, 2014 Dear member, Assaults on health care workers in Penticton and Kamloops have dominated the news this week. Incidents like these have become all too common in health care settings. It is time for action. I am calling on British Columbia's Minister of Health, Hon. Terry...

With time running down for the raid season, BCNU has lost another attempt to take registered psychiatric nurses out of HSA. The BCNU had tried to move members at Mission Memorial Hospital out of HSA but the Labour Board today confirmed they did not have the support of the RPNs as the vote was in favour of HSA. Earlier this...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 Name: Alka Kundi. Nickname in high school: Well, my name is Alka, so the nicknames should be obvious. Alkaseltzer, Alcoholic and Alkatraz. In retrospect, I'm not sure if these were nicknames or if people were just making fun of me, but oh well. Job title and department: Labour Relations Officer, Servicing. What you actually do, in...

HSA REPORT, DECEMBER 2014 By David Durning, HSA Senior OHS Officer Over the years, Canadian workers have fought for and gained important workplace health and safety rights. The diligent exercise of these rights is proven to be the most effective way of ensuring workplace hazards are controlled. These rights, enshrined in legislation and regulation, are: the right to know about...