HSA Board of Directors elections – second call: deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 23

Nominations are open for Regional Director elections in HSA Regions 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. This is an excellent opportunity for members to contribute to the leadership of the union and to represent the interests of other members.

Preparations for HSA’s annual convention, where delegates representing members from throughout the province set goals, debate policies, and recommend actions for the union and its members to carry out for the year, are already underway.

HSA SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY WORKSHOP 

DATE: Thursday, February 20, 2020
TIME:  8:30am – 4:00pm    
PLACE: HSA Head Office - 180 East Columbia St. New Westminster, BC

 The Committee on Equality and Social Action invite you to a workshop to explore different aspects of the Climate Emergency.

* updated December 13, 2019 to clarify that under the amended policy, it is still mandatory to report vaccination status, but no longer mandatory to wear a mask if not vaccinated.

After years of controversy surrounding the province’s “vaccinate or mask” policy for health care workers during the flu season, the provincial policy has been amended to remove the disciplinary portion of the policy, where health care workers were at risk of being fired if they did not get a flu shot.

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children.  Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies.  Two indigenous bursaries will be awarded to indigenous students in BC.

The criteria and details are set out on the application forms available on the HSA website.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) and the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) have published the 2019-2022 Community Living Services, General Services and Indigenous Services collective agreements which are now available at the updated links below:

One of Canada's best labour schools, held at Harrison Hot Springs, in January and February 2020.

The CLC Winter School offers a wide variety of week-long, 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.

For dates and course information, please see Information Sheet.

This morning the BC government introduced Bill 41, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

This bill requires all provincial laws to align with UNDRIP, and is an important and concrete step to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into a provincial legislative framework. Once passed, BC will be the first province to bring the internationally recognized standards of UNDRIP into provincial law.   

PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

All workers have a right to a safe work environment.  Unions have a significant role to play in ensuring that our workplaces are safe.  Workplace violence can take the form of physical aggression such as hitting, biting or kicking. It also includes verbal threats, swearing, name-calling and bullying. Violence is not part of anyone’s job and the repercussions of workers being exposed to violence can be devastating, affecting their physical and mental health as well as their job satisfaction.