Bulletins

The Health Sciences Association of BC has joined more than 180 organizations in endorsing the Canadian Health Coalitions -Call to Care", to secure the future of Medicare. The CHC statement outlines a vision and a list of principles to build a better public health care system that works for everyone. The federal government has recently announced that it intends to...

Bargaining at the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association table continues to make slow but steady progress, HSPBA Chief Negotiator Jeanne Meyers reported today. Like most public sector union contracts in the province, the agreement expired March 31, 2012. -At the outset of bargaining, we said HSA is committed to the process, but that if we didnt see signs from employers...

The 2010-2012 HSPBA collective agreement includes a Letter of Agreement ... Re: Professional Development Fund ... which provided for a $450,000 Professional Development Fund for use by all HSPBA members, including members represented by unions other than HSA, over the term of the collective agreement. After the first round of applications last winter, the fund is not yet spent, and...

Q: Im scheduled to work July 1, and not on July 2. However, my employer says that I will not be getting paid at the -statutory holiday" rate for work on July 1. Is this right? A: This year, July 1 falls on a Sunday. According to the federal Holidays Act, this means the legal statutory holiday is July 2...

The East Kootenay and District Labour Council is holding a one-day education session Saturday April 28. The workshops include "Stress in the Workplace," "Pensions," and "Young Worker Education." For more information and registration: Workshop Information Registration

The elected bargaining committee for the Nurses Bargaining Association has completed two more weeks of negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (March 19-30), with discussions focusing on four issues: 1. Responsive Shift Scheduling: Discussion with employers about how to improve shift scheduling to respond to employees needs when scheduling shifts. 2. Alternative Dispute Resolution Process (ADR): An agreement...

HSA members in Region 2 have elected Val Avery to a third term as their representative on the unions Board of Directors. Val is a physiotherapist at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. The other candidate for election was Derrick Hoyt, a pathologists assistant at Royal Jubilee Hospital. During the past four years, Val has served on HSAs Run for...

The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) met again last week in Vancouver and exchanged and discussed proposals for three days with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC). The CBA tabled proposals related to health and welfare benefits including a proposal for a Short Term Illness and Injury Plan. The CBA also tabled proposals on job postings while the employer...

More than 300 people braved the rain on March 31 to show their support for programs and services that support victims of violence, youth at risk, people with developmental disabilities, women in transition, immigrant families and many others. Victorias 4th Annual Walk for Community Social Services was the final event, wrapping up a month of activities aimed at promoting a...

After a month of talks, nurses have made several gains from issues arising out of the 2009 contract extension and from employer cost savings from disability management. As of April 1, 2012, the waiting period for Long Term Disability eligibility will be reduced from five months to four months. For members waiting for LTD who have no source of employment...