News & Updates
Canadian Nursing Week Workshop for RPNs
April 24, 2017
To celebrate Canadian Nursing Week, May 8 to 14, Health Sciences Association has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to offer a new workshop specifically for HSA Registered Psychiatric Nurses.
Join us at the HSA head office in New Westminster, BC on Thursday, May 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for this two-part workshop:
Working Together to Address Workplace Mental Health keynote and Awareness of Mental Health Workshop.
Join HSA President Val Avery at the Rally for a Better BC – Sunday April 23rd
April 20, 2017
HSA members and their family and friends are invited to attend the Countdown to a Better BC with John Horgan rally this Sunday. Date: Sunday, April 23, 2017 Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Place: Commodore Ballroom - 868 Granville St, Vancouver
Update to members on health and welfare benefits
April 19, 2017
April 1, 2017 marked the day that the new Joint Health Science Benefits Trust took over stewardship of members’ health and welfare benefits, including Long Term Disability. The move from an employer-controlled fund to a jointly trusteed fund with equal representation from unions and employers was negotiated in 2014 Health Science Professionals contract bargaining.
Val Avery re-elected as HSA president
April 11, 2017
Physiotherapist Val Avery was re-elected to serve as HSA president for another two years at the union’s annual convention in Vancouver over the weekend. More than 300 delegates attended the convention.
“I’ve been active in the labour movement for over 30 years and let me tell you I have never once stopped being amazed at the skill, dedication and passion of our members,” Avery told delegates.
“Every one of us comes into this union as an individual, often with a singular focus on the many challenges of our diverse and unique professions. But then something happens.
Giddha elected to serve on HSA Board of Directors
March 22, 2017
Jas Giddha has been elected to serve a two-year term as a member of HSA’s Board of Directors, representing HSA members in Region 7 from several worksites, including Surrey Memorial, Peace Arch, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack Hospitals, and the Fraser Valley Centre for Child Development.
Giddha is a medical radiation technologist at Surrey Memorial and Peace Arch Hospital, and has been involved in the union since graduating from Thompson Rivers University and starting as a casual in 2012.
Supreme Court of BC rejects BC Nurses' Union application
March 6, 2017
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of BC dismissed an application from the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) for judicial review related to their failed raid application on Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) at Royal Inland Hospital in 2014. In a judicial review, a Supreme Court judge reviews the decision that has been made by an administrative tribunal, in this case the Labour Relations Board (LRB).
Core Organizer Training for HSA Members
March 2, 2017
The Health Sciences Association has partnered with Organize BC to host their interactive two-day core organizer training on March 18 & 19. We have a limited number of no-cost spaces for HSA members to attend.
This training is designed for members interested in grassroots engagement in their union activism and social change work. More information on the training curriculum is included below.
Avery speaks out on budget's failure to address wait lists driven by shortages
February 27, 2017
"Buildings and equipment don't treat patients. Health professional treat patients."
HSA President Val Avery went live on CFAX last week to talk about how the provincial budget failed to do anything for people waiting on long wait lists for health care.
Government rejects joint call by unions and employers for competitive wage for sonographers
February 7, 2017
The BC Liberal government has rejected a call for immediate action to address the critical shortage of sonographers in BC by providing them with a competitive wage.
Government response to recommendations to address sonographer shortages
February 7, 2017
The HSPBA/HEABC Recruitment and Retention Committee last reported that it had
submitted its Report and Recommendations concerning the sonographer shortage to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat (PSEC), in accordance with the parties’ mandate under the Memorandum of Understanding that created the Committee during the last round of bargaining.