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Hospital pharmacies start rotating strikes

December 5, 2012

Kamloops Daily News

Pressing for a wage hike, members of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. are set to begin rotating strikes at hospitals across the province.

The strikes begin Thursday when pharmacy services at hospitals, including Royal Inland Hospital, will be reduced to essential service levels from 9 a.m. to midnight.

There will be no picket lines.

RIH was still assessing on Tuesday how the hospital would respond to the job action, a health authority spokeswoman said.

Mandatory flu shots for health workers delayed; Government temporarily backs away from its original plan

December 5, 2012

Alberni Valley News

By Terri Theodore
Source: The Canadian Press

The B.C. government has temporarily backed away from a controversial plan to force thousands of provincial health workers to get a flu shot before they can work with patients.

Instead of forcing workers to wear a mask or have the mandatory flu vaccination, the B.C. Health Ministry said it will work towards voluntary compliance from workers in the first year of the program.

Surgery, lab tests to be delayed by strike

December 5, 2012

BC Local News

By Tom Fletcher - BC Local News
Published: December 05, 2012 3:00 PM
Updated: December 05, 2012 3:39 PM

Hospital pharmacists and medical imaging technicians plan to go ahead with brief strikes Thursday and Friday as a mediator attempts to reach a settlement with 16,000 health science employees at hospitals and clinics across B.C.

Rotating strikes begin with hospital pharmacies

December 4, 2012

The Daily News (Kamloops)

Pressing for a wage hike, members of the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia are set to begin rotating strikes at hospitals across the province.
The strikes begin Thursday when pharmacy services at hospitals, including Royal Inland Hospital, will be reduced to essential service levels from 9 a.m. to midnight. There will be no picket lines.
RIH was still assessing on Tuesday how the hospital would respond to the job action, a health authority spokeswoman said.

B.C. government suspends mandatory flu shots for health workers for one year; B.C. backs off health workers flu shot plan

December 4, 2012

Canadian Press

VANCOUVER - The B.C. government has temporarily backed away from its mandatory flu vaccination policy for thousands of provincial health care workers.
Instead of forcing workers to get flu shots, the Health Ministry says it will work towards getting compliance from workers in the first year of the program.
In a letter to B.C.'s health authority chief executive officers, deputy health minister Graham Whitmarsh says components of the influenza control policy would not be enforced for the first year.

BC Flu Prevention

December 4, 2012

Canadian Press

BC07 - (BC-Flu-Prevention)
VANCOUVER. The head of the Health Sciences Association says his union is pleased the government has backed away from forcing its members to get a flu shot. Reid Johnson says members are encouraged to have flu vaccinations, but they don't want to be forced into something that involves their privacy.
TAG: Instead of forcing workers to get flu shots, the Health Ministry plans to work on voluntary compliance from employees in the first year of the program.
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Workers cheer softened stand on flu shots

December 4, 2012

Globe and Mail

By Rod Mickleburgh

VANCOUVER -- The province's health-care workers are hailing a last- minute reprieve in a landmark policy by public health officials that would have forced them to receive a flu shot or wear a surgical mask during their shifts.

Staff who refused to comply with the policy - the first of its kind in Canada - would have been liable to discipline, up to and including termination.

BC Health Strike

December 3, 2012

Canadian Press

Negotiations resume today for members of the B-C Health Sciences Association who are planning job action at health care facilities later this week to press their contract demands.
The action begins Thursday -- a day later than first planned -- when pharmacists go to essential service levels, followed by medical imaging techs on Friday.

BC Health Strike

December 3, 2012

Canadian Press

Members of the BC Health Sciences Association say they will begin strike action this week after months of inaction at the bargaining table.
Hospital pharmacists will reduce their work to essential services this Wednesday and, on Friday, medical imaging techs will do the same.
Association president Reid Johnson says members are frustrated after eight months of negotiations with no progress.

More respiratory therapists needed at NRGH

November 30, 2012

Nanaimo News Bulletin

The Health Sciences Association of B.C. wants Vancouver Island Health Authority to hire more respiratory therapists for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
VIHA says it wants to raise staffing levels, but can't find people to fill the positions.

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