News & Updates

HSA members have rejected a proposal to increase union dues in order to offset an unfunded liability in a union long term disability plan.The proposal for a dues increase was rejected by a margin of 84% to 16%. More than 5,000 members ... or 30 per cent of the total membership ... participated in the vote.At the union's annual convention...

Talks to renew the Community Health Services and Support provincial contract have adjourned and the unions will be conducting a strike vote. HSA President Reid Johnson said that after eight long months at the bargaining table, members in community health services and support deserve a fair and reasonable deal. -These workers provide crucial services in many community settings," he said...

Labour Council Location/City Time Metro Vancouver Trout LakeVancouver, BC 11:30am ... 4:30pm Sunshine Coast Labour Council Gower Point RoadGibsons, BC 12pm ... 4pm Kamloops & District Labour Council Riverside Park BandshellLorne StreetKamloops, BC 11am ... 3pm Fraser Valley Labour Council Mill Lake Park(Bevan Rd. Entrance)Abbotsford, BC 11am ... 3pm Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council Transfer Beach ParkTransfer Beach Blvd.Ladysmith...

Public rally on Sept. 13 in support of community social services With a strong strike mandate backing members demands for a fair deal in General Services and Community Living Services, the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) will meet with employers on September 17 and 18. Potential job action is likely without a change in governments restrictive so-called -cooperative gains"...

In spite of the unions cease and desist request and an active arbitration about employers failure to adhere to certain terms and conditions negotiated in the 2010-2012 HSPBA collective agreement, employers continue to implement classification changes. HSA, on behalf of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association, charged that HEABC has contravened the collective agreement by failing or refusing to work...

Vancouver Sun The B.C. Nurses' Union wants to scrap an unpopular workplace attendance scheme imposed by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and an independent arbitrator has been called in to mediate the dispute. The four-year-old attendance and wellness program was implemented to increase productivity among health care workers by cutting down on sick days, but nurses maintain they are being...

BCs Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall yesterday announced new measures for influenza prevention among health care workers and patients. As in previous years, health care workers who work in patient care areas are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated annually against influenza. However, under the new policy, if health care workers chose not to be vaccinated they will be required to...

Vancouver Sun By ManoriRavindran, Vancouver Sun August 14, 2012 Since July 24,three non-elective heart surgeries at Vancouver General Hospital have had to bepostponed due to a shortage of heart-lung machine technicians, orperfusionists. The in-patients, all with potentially life-threateningconditions, required urgent surgeries, but their operations had to berescheduled because the only perfusionist available was called in for a doublelung transplant that...

In May 2012, FORME Ergonomics was contracted by Marty Lovick, Senior Labour Relations Officer, Health Sciences Association of British Columbia, to investigate a query from a number of members regarding insufficient information on cardiac ultrasonography contained in the Best Practices for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers package recently released by the Health Sciences Association. The objective was to complete a brief review...

HSAs annual fall regional meetings have been scheduled for September and October 2012. Regional meetings are an excellent forum for HSA members to review the issues and activities of the past year, and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. This year, the day-long regional meeting will be followed by a day-long disability management education workshop. The workshop will...