On August 22, 2022, a new section of the Occupational Health and Safety regulation related to the refusal of unsafe work will take effect. Workers have the right to refuse work when they have reasonable cause to believe it is unsafe. The new provisions make it harder for employers to reassign that potentially unsafe work to someone else.

This is a long overdue and very important change that the labour movement has advocated for. It reinforces a worker’s right to know and increases the protections for workers in the workplace.

Date: May 26, 2022
Time:  9 am to 4:30 pm
Location: HSA Office, 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster

Dates: May 9-10, 2022
Location: HSA Office, 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster

Workshop participants will discuss:

Data now being used in ongoing talks urging government to improve guidelines

Almost 1700 HSA members have responded quickly to a short survey circulated by HSA over the last ten days, and the results indicate deepening concern about the impact of staffing shortages on both working conditions and patient safety. 
 
Furthermore, there are ongoing concerns about access to N95 respirators and recent changes to infection control guidelines which increase risk of exposure to COVID-19 for both patients and health care workers.

2022 is off to a busy start for HSA with preparations underway for contract negotiations for members working in health care and community social services. Contracts covering more than 20,000 members are set to expire March 31, 2022.
 
Also coming up in 2022 is the union’s annual convention April 28-30, planned to be held in person in Vancouver. In the lead-up to the convention, Board of Directors elections are also scheduled, with nominations closing on February 10.
 

2022 Canadian Labour Congress Winter School

One of Canada's best labour schools, held at Harrison Hot Springs, in January and February 2022.

The CLC Winter School offers a wide variety of four-day, quality labour-oriented courses. To support HSA's ability to represent HSA members effectively and help build a stronger union, members can apply to take courses chosen to meet these objectives.

BC’s Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced yesterday new public health orders for mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees working in acute care settings. This includes acute care health care professionals who deliver patient care in the community, including in people’s homes.
 
HSA members working in these settings will be subject to the order, which requires COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. This follows a similar order for long-term care settings announced last month.
 

BC’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, today announced a new public health order for mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment for all employees working in long-term care or assisted living facilities.

This new public health order will impact HSA members working in these settings.

Health Sciences Association of BC has contracted Viewpoints Research to conduct an on line survey to explore members' priorities and concerns as your union begins negotiations for your next contract. Viewpoints Research an industry leader with 30 years of experience conducting research for unions and other progressive organizations. Using an experienced third-party professional research firm for this membership survey ensures confidentiality and the highest quality of data.

The Canadian Labour Congress, in partnership with the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children at Western University and the University of Toronto, has launched a survey on violence and harassment in the workplace.