The Report

The Report: December 2004 vol.25 num.6 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN he phrase -the school of life" has an apt illustration in Charlie Wheat. In fact, unlike most residential care workers, Wheat did not need formal training at all to learn how to do his job, which entails providing care, on a myriad of levels, for mentally and physically disabled adults living...

The Report: December 2004 vol.25 num.6 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN verything has been great ... Ive been lucky," says laboratory technologist Katie Fulop. It may come as a surprise to know that with these upbeat words she is describing her experience with breast cancer. Katie Fulop Medical Laboratory Technologist Chief Steward Mission Memorial Hospital -Ive kept a positive attitude, which is...

The Report: December 2004 vol.25 num.6 by CINDY STEWART fter seven years as a sponsor of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundations most important fundraising event ... the CIBC Run for the Cure ... HSA members have contributed more than $650,000 to the fight against breast cancer. This contribution represents HSAs annual $25,000 silver-level sponsorship of the Run, the fundraising of...

The Report: December 2004 vol.25 num.6 What obligation is there on my employer to maintain a safe workplace? All workers have a right to a safe work environment. The Workers Compensation Act of BC requires employers to provide safe working environments for their employees. In addition, HSA has negotiated collective agreement language that defines the obligations of employers to maintain...

The Report: September / October 2004 vol.25 num.5 by CINDY STEWART hen the First Ministers were meeting in Ottawa to discuss the future of health care, I was there in my capacity as co-chair of the Canadian Health professionals Secretariat (CHPS) calling for a national strategy to address the growing shortage of health science professionals in Canada. Ironically, it was...

The Report: September / October 2004 vol.25 num.5 by SARAH O'LEARY I am a lab technologist at a hospital. Two years ago I had problems with my right arm. It was diagnosed as a strain originally, and then my doctor told me it was tendonitis. I mentioned it to a co-worker, but I never reported it to my employer or...

The Report: September / October 2004 vol.25 num.5 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN ab technologist and union activist Gottfrid Janzé could be used as living proof of the old saying ‘the apple never falls far from the tree ... or, just as easily, as an example of how wrong it is. It just depends on what aspect of his working life you...

The Report: September / October 2004 vol.25 num.5 by MIRIAM SOBRINO usan Hearsey describes herself as “boring.” She’s a physiotherapist who loves the work. She eats, sleeps and breathes physiotherapy. She takes physiotherapy books and magazines with her for holiday reading. Susan Hearsey Chief Physiotherapist Burnaby General Hospital But dig a little deeper and you learn that Hearsey is far...

The Report: July / August 2004 vol.25 num.4 by CAROL RIVIERE ecognizing the significant impact that government decisions have on members' working conditions, HSA's 2003 convention passed a resolution adding the function of lobbying to the mandate of HSA's political action committee (PAC). HSA's Board of Directors subsequently approved a PAC recommendation that the Committee carry out this mandate, in...

The Report: July / August 2004 vol.25 num.4 by CAROL RIVIERE SA activists and occupational health and safety stewards recently attended a one-day workshop at HSA's office, to prepare to go back to their communities to fight against the provincial Liberals' program of ongoing cuts to workers' compensation benefits, and workplace health and safety. The workshop began with a review...