HSA members in Region 6 have re-elected Nancy Hay to serve a two-year term as their representative on the union’s Board of Directors.  The term begins at the conclusion of the union’s annual convention on April 28, 2018.

Hay is a social worker at St. Paul’s and Lions Gate Hospitals, and has chaired the union’s Political Action and Education committees, in addition to serving as an active member of the CESA, COPS and Resolution committees. 

The other candidate for the board position was Theo DeGagne, a psychologist.

Are you an HSA member with a passion for disability management and rehabilitation? Do you have strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills? Are you employed with the Vancouver Island Health Authority? If so, consider applying to be an Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) regional representative. 

Nominations are now open for election of a regional director from HSA Region 8, which includes members in the Interior of the province. This is an excellent opportunity for members to contribute to the leadership of the union and to represent the interest of other members. 

To be eligible, candidates must have been a member of HSA for at least one year immediately prior to election, and be nominated in writing by two members in the region the nominee seeks to represent.

HSA welcomes today’s announcement that government will fund 37,000 more MRI scans in the public system during the coming year, compared to last year.  

BC has had the longest wait times for MRI in the country for several years, resulting in many patients paying for medically necessary scans at private clinics.  Some of these patients then use these scans to jump the queue to obtain surgery or other treatment in the public system, meaning those already on public wait lists for treatment wait longer.

 HSA offers scholarships for Summer Institute for Union Women
July 10 - 14, 2018
Sonoma State University, California

Periods are a fact of life and menstruation products are a necessity. Nobody should have to pick between feeding their family and being able to afford basic hygiene products. Yet far too many people – especially those living in poverty – simply can’t afford them.

“We know it is a struggle for food banks and community groups to collect menstruation products. Despite the need, donations are low. We wanted to do something about this,” says HSA President Val Avery.

Do you know someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the area of occupational health and safety, improving the lives of their fellow HSA members? Consider nominating them for the David Bland Memorial Award. 

Hello all CSS HSA Members;

CSSEA and CSSBA have agreed on the distribution of the April 1, 2018 Comparability and Classification Anomaly Wage Increases. The intention of the Comparability Adjustment is to close the wage gap with comparator classifications in Community Health. The detailed agreement and wage schedules is here.

Thank you.

CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev), a BC-based non-governmental organization working for social change in the Americas, is inviting interested HSA members to travel with a learning delegation to Guatemala in March 2018 to meet with some of CoDev’s partner organizations supporting women in Guatemala, who face enormous economic and social challenges.

The ten-day delegation is scheduled for March 17 to 26. Participants are responsible for their own costs, estimated at $1300 to $1570, plus airfare. Applications are open until January 30, 2018.