The Report

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 BY VAL AVERY PRESIDENT, HSA HSA is a non-partisan union, but that doesn't mean we don't speak up on the issues that matter to our members. On October 19, Canadians have a chance to make a choice that will decide the future of our country for the next four years, and far beyond that. HSA...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 iT'S NOT AS EASY AS BEFORE, SO LISTEN UP The Conservative government of Stephen Harper has changed Canada's election rules, making it much harder for all citizens to vote in their elections, and preventing Elections Canada from raising awareness about the new rules for voting. Please take a few minutes to make your plan. 1...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." This quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead nicely sums up the motivation social worker Easter Tocol brings to her work with the HSA constituency liaison program. This program trains and...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 HSA health science professionals dominated the field at the 2015 Providence Health Care research challenge The research challenge, now in its fifth year, supports evidence-based innovation to improve patient care. It provides point of care health care workers with no formal research experience an opportunity to conduct research to inform their work in patient care...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE Q: I took a maternity leave in 2014. When I received my annual member benefit statement from the Municipal Pension Plan in June, I noticed there were no contributions made to my pension account even though the collective agreement says the employer will continue to make payments...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER Recent amendments to the Workers Compensation Act are meant to improve workplace health and safety and to provide stronger tools to WorkSafeBC officers for enforcing the Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Bill 9 received Royal Assent on May 14, 2015 and makes a number of changes...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 HSA provides members and their children with several scholarships and bursaries for education. Scholarships are adjudicated by the union's education commiittee. Applications for 2016 will be accepted beginning in January 2016. Check for details at http://www.hsabc.org/member-benefits/scholarships-and-bursaries SCHOLARSHIP AWARDSShaelin Bishop, child of Maria Bishop, RPN, Lions Gate HospitalRobyn Boudreau, child of Jody Boudreau, physiotherapist, Shuswap Health...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE Q: I understand there was a presentation on the new health and welfare trust at the recent HSA annual convention. What were the highlights? Yes, members of the Joint Health Sciences Benefit Trust (JHSBT) Working Group did a report out at the HSA convention in early May...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 By Val Avery, President Once again, I am honoured to have been elected to serve as your president. These are challenging times for people who work in health care and community social services. These are challenging times for unions. But we've proven that we can overcome these challenges – when we work together. We may...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2015 When Rachel Notley made history on May 5, no one was prouder than the HSA staff and members who worked with her back in the day. Notley, who led Alberta's New Democrats from four seats to government, ending 44 years of Progressive Conservative rule, worked at HSA from 1994 to 2002, representing injured workers and...