Have a say in your union: elections set for this fall for bargaining proposal conference delegates and members-at-large in even-numbered HSA regions

From serving on bargaining committees to represent HSA members’ interests in contract negotiations to selecting recipients for education awards for HSA members and their families, introducing young workers to the union movement, overseeing the union’s budget, and participating in the solidarity of the broader labour movement, your union has lots of opportunities for you to get involved.

Elections for union positions will be held at the upcoming Annual Regional meetings. For a schedule of meetings, see this link. If you are interested in participating in your Regional Meeting, watch your email for a local chapter meeting notice or contact your Chief Steward for information about elections for delegates to the meeting.

HSPBA Bargaining Proposal Conference and Bargaining Committee
All HSA members covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) collective agreement are invited to run for election as a member of the HSPBA Bargaining Committee. The bargaining committee is comprised of two board members and up to 10 members elected to represent HSA health science professionals from throughout the province in contract negotiations with the employer. Members of the bargaining committee will be elected at the November 22-23 HSPBA Bargaining Proposal Conference – to be held virtually.

Delegates to the HSPBA Bargaining Proposal Conference will be elected at the union’s regional meetings this fall. Members do not have to be present at the Bargaining Proposal Conference to run for election to the HSPBA Bargaining Committee. Members interested in running for the HSPBA Bargaining Committee are invited to submit a statement of up to 300 words to @email. Similarly, members do not have to be present at their Regional Meeting to run for election as a delegate to the Bargaining Proposal Conference and are invited to submit a statement of up to 300 words to @email to be considered for election as a delegate to the Bargaining Proposal Conference.

CSSBA, CBA, and NBA Bargaining Proposal Conference and Bargaining Committees
Members covered by the Community Social Services, Community Health, and Nurses collective agreements elect delegates to the October 14 Bargaining Proposal Conference at local union meetings. The number of delegates per chapter entitled to participate in the online conference is determined by the number of members at the chapter. Check with your chief steward to find out about your local meeting to select delegates. Members do not have to be present at the Bargaining Proposal Conference to run for election to their bargaining committee. Members interested in running for the CSS, CBA, or NBA bargaining committee are invited to submit a statement of up to 300 words to @email.

Members-at-Large
In addition, this year, delegates to Regional Meetings in even-numbered regions are invited to run for the position of HSA Member-at-Large. Members-at-large are important members of the union’s governance structure, and have opportunities to meet people from around the province, while getting to know the union better. This fall, member-at-large elections will take place at Regional Meetings in even-numbered regions (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10).

Members-at-large are elected by regional meeting delegates and will begin their two-year term at the conclusion of the 2022 Annual Convention.  Each region elects two to four members-at-large, plus two alternates.

Members-at-large sit on the union’s standing committees:  Committee on Equality and Social Action, Education, Occupational Health and Safety, Political Action, Women’s, and Finance.  One member-at-large from each region is also elected to serve a two-year term on HSA’s Resolutions Committee.  Committee members are required to attend two to four committee meetings per year in the Lower Mainland.

In addition to the committee meetings, members-at-large are expected to attend HSA’s annual three-day convention held in April-May, and the annual regional meeting in the fall. The role of member-at-large is strictly a governance one, and while there is rarely any other time commitment beyond participating in committee meetings, members-at-large have a leadership role in the union and are encouraged to attend solidarity events with other unions and allies, and to represent the union at events and functions.  Any wages lost due to taking time off work, child care costs, and travel expenses related to committee meetings or other official HSA business are covered by the union.

If you are interested in running as a delegate to the HSPBA Bargaining Proposal Conference, a member of a bargaining committee (HSPBA, CSSBA, CBA, or NBA), or for member-at-large in your region, please take note of the attached deadlines. Contact you chief steward, and watch your email for notice of your local chapter meeting to be elected to your Regional Meeting.

Need more information?
See the Frequently Asked Questions related to regional meetings and bargaining proposals.

IMPORTANT HSA DEADLINES – FALL 2021 ELECTIONS (MALs, and Bargaining Committees)

** Delegates to the CSS, CBA, and NBA Bargaining proposal conferences will be elected at local HSA Chapter meetings.