Bulletins

Educational Objective: To explore the issue of social justice and some of the efforts HSA and its partners are undertaking to bring about just conditions both locally and globally. Target Audience: All members interested in social justice. Workshop Goals: Provide a history of HSA’s Committee on Equality and Social Action (CESA Committee) Understand what social justice means for HSA/union members...

HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), has now concluded negotiations for a labour adjustment plan with PHSA . This labour adjustment plan will address the implementation of the PHSA laboratory technical leadership redesign in the most supportive and respectful manner for our laboratory technologists. Lab stewards and members have done an exemplary job at articulating...

…Therefore be it resolved HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2016 HSA Convention May 6 & 7, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. The Convention Plenary will begin on May 5 at 1:00 pm. Convention is the union's annual meeting where chapter representatives from around the province determine the union's future direction. Policies, actions, constitutional amendments...

Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In recognition of the need for educating new stewards in these areas, HSA is offering four 3-day Basic Steward Training workshops at the HSA office as follows: Dates: January 11–13, 2016 January 25-27, 2016 February 22–24, 2016 April...

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 aboriginal bursaries will be awarded to aboriginal students in BC. The criteria and details are set out on the application forms available here. Completed application forms and transcripts...

With flu season around the corner, HSA members are reminded of the provincial influenza control policy in effect in BC.In spite of changes in other provinces, the flu prevention policy in BC has not changed, and health care workers who choose not to be vaccinated have options available to them, including wearing a surgical mask.Health care workers must report their...

Starting with the first pay period after February 1, 2016, most HSA members can expect a pay hike of 0.45% over and above the 5.5% increase rolling out over the life of the current contract. This increase is the result of the Economic Stability Dividend, a feature of the current agreement which requires the government to increase negotiated wages as...

Elections will be held during the coming few weeks to select members to fill the following HSA positions for the coming year: 1. Chief Steward2. Assistant Chief Steward3. General Stewards4. Occupational Health & Safety Stewards and5. Labour Council Delegates (for chapters that are, or wish to become, affiliated to their local labour council). Stewards play an essential role within HSA...

An arbitrator has ordered employers to use a revised medical information form following a grievance filed by the union bargaining association that represents Community Social Services workers. The new information form offers a balance between an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s right to information. Please read the full bulletin here. The new form can be downloaded here.

Last week, HSA launched a series of radio ads designed to promote the work of our diverse professions. The series of five ads, broadcasting on radio stations across the province for the next six weeks, demonstrate how our many professions connect to each other, and how we connect the public to modern health care. You can listen to the ads...