Bulletins

Lawyers representing seven BC unions filed documents and launched a legal challenge July 23 against Bill 42. Bill 42 originally attempted to restrict third party election advertising for five full months before the next provincial election. Following widespread criticism, Bill 42 was amended but still goes far beyond any similar laws in the country and essentially shuts off all third...

WorkSafeBC is hosting a half-day information session Tuesday, October 14 for social service and community care employers and workers. The focus will be on current and emerging trends in infectious diseases, including MRSA and TB, in high-risk communities. Registration is open, and not restricted to employers and workers in social services and community care. The session will be held Tuesday...

Vancouver Whitecaps FC is celebrating unions in B.C. Sunday, August 10 at Swangard Stadium with reduced ticket prices for union members. The game is Sunday August 10, with a 4 p.m. kick-off. To order, call 604-669-WAVE (9283) and ask for the "union day" special. Reduced prices are as follows: Bronze $19 $11Silver $25 $13Gold $28 $17Platinum $36 $25There is no...

BC Citizens for Public Power will host a gathering of concerned British Columbians -- from activists to academics, environmentalists to energy experts, as well as filmmakers, First Nations leaders and other public power devotees. More Power to You is a conference for community and environmental activists organizing to protect public power in British Columbia. This two-day event will take place...

Three-year proposal contains increases totalling at least 14.5%, plus lump sum payments, new flexible spending accounts and improved benefitsEdmonton (9 July 2008) - The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) is conducting a ratification vote on a tentative three-year agreement affecting more than 11,000 paramedical professional and technical employees across the province.Full ratification information will be mailed to members this...

HSA Political Action Fund available to support members running or working in November municipal election HSA members who are running for municipal office, or working on campaigns to elect candidates for local government positions, can apply to HSA for the following financial support from HSAs Political Action Fund: 1. Members who are candidates can apply for up to 5 days...

Groups representing seniors, consumers and labour say access to affordable medicines threatened in CanadaOttawa (3 July 2008) - A coalition of groups representing seniors, consumers and labour is investigating a trend among provincial governments toward signing secret tender agreements with pharmaceutical companies.A research report released Thursday by Aidan Hollis, an economist at the University of Calgarys Institute for Advanced Policy...

Toronto (19 June 2008) - The Ontario government has broken an election promise to set a minimum standard of care for the 75,000 people who live in long-term care nursing homes across the province. Premier Dalton McGuinty made the pledge in 2005. Critics have called for a standard of at least 3.5 hours of care daily for elderly patients living...

Ottawa (17 June 2008) - Health care is a major presidential election issue in the United States this year and Canada's public Medicare system and its advocates are attracting a lot more attention than normal. BusinessWeek magazine recently asked James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees, to participate in its Debate Room forum on...

In the June 11 Vancouver Sun, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and several of its affiliated unions, including HSA, called on Canadians to move from apology to action to work to improve the lives of Canada's First Nations. The Canadian government's formal apology yesterday over horrific abuses in residential schools is an important first step. Now we all need to...