2017: News Archive

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 HSA'S newest ad shines a light on the professions delivering mental health care in BC. The 30-second spot, airing on TV, Facebook and YouTube between October 23 and November 19, is an emotional story that helps the public, the media and members of the new government recognize the important role of key HSA professions working...

HSA has contracted with Viewpoints Research to conduct a survey to find out more about member priorities related to contract negotiations, workload, member communications and other current issues. The survey will be conducted on line. Members will receive email invitations starting October 2, and the survey will be open until October 28. It takes 8-12 minutes to complete. Your participation...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 A random survey conducted last fall found that 75 per cent of members are concened that workload is negatively impacting patient care. Over the course of 2016, HSA consulted thousands of members in several surveys. Over 5000 members completed a short survey on workload. Another 1400 completed a comprehensive survey. A futher 2500 were randomly...

HSA Report Magazine, September 2017 Last fall, HSA's mobilizing team brought together a small group of HSA members who wanted to do something more. The Member Engagement Team, as it came to be known, drew individuals from a range of professions. They spent a lot of time in a room full of white boards, sketching out ideas and eating terrible...

REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HSA Months of uncertainty ended July 9. That's when an historic agreement between the NDP and Green Party of BC created a governing coalition that could hold a majority of seats in the BC Legislature, and bring down the minority BC Liberal government that had been hanging on since the May election...

REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY CAROL RIVIERE, HSA COMMUNICATIONS Choosing the politicians who govern our communities at the municipal or regional district level, and the school trustees who make decisions that affect our children's education, is a critical issue for working families. Over the next few months, several communities around the province will hold by-elections to fill vacant positions, and...

BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE Q: I have been following the Health Sciences Benefit Trust (JHSBT) for Health Science Professional Bargaining Association members, and am wondering if there is any news about benefits for community social services professionals. I understood there was a commitment to review benefit plans in my sector as well. Is that the case...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY GERI GRIGG, HSA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICEER Each year more than 20 per cent of Canadians experience a mental health issue or illness. Mental health claims represent 30 per cent of all disability claims and account for 70 per cent of total costs. Suffering from mental health issues can lead to absenteeism, presentism...

The Hospital Employees' Union issued 72-hour strike notice late Friday as HEU members in the contracted support service sector continue to bargain for a fair deal. Union members are now in a legal position to take job action to back their demands in bargaining. B.C. hospital housekeeping and dietary workers gave their union bargaining committee an almost unanimous strike mandate...