Community Social Services workers ratify collective agreement

Community social service workers have voted in favour of a two-year contract that provides a wage increase while protecting health and welfare benefits. Community Living workers ratified the tentative agreement by 71 percent. General Services ratified by 84 percent. The weighted average ratification vote for both sectors was 76 percent. HSA represents almost 800 community social services workers covered by these two agreements.

Reid Johnson re-elected president of HSA

Candidate for president Ali Rirash looks on as HSA President Reid Johnson addresses delegates   Delegates to HSA's 2013 annual convention have re-elected President Reid Johnson. Ali Rirash, a medical laboratory technologist at Victoria General Hospital, and Kevin Towhey, a medical radiation technologist at Royal Inland Hospital, also ran for the position. Delegates voted on Saturday morning.

Agreement reached on process to implement 37.5 hour work week

The spirit of the negotiated agreement surrounding the change from a 36-hour to a 37.5-hour work week was confirmed this week as the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) reached agreement on a process to implement the 37.5 hour work week agreed to in the recently ratified collective agreement.

HSPBA will fight health authority’s attempt to break contract agreement

In a recent letter from human resources managers at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, employees have been told they will be moving to a five-day 7.5 hour work week and that nine-day fortnights and EDOs will be eradicated. The letter completely misrepresents the negotiated agreement reached on the shift to a 37.5 hour work week from the current 36 hour work week worked by health science professionals, says HSA’s Executive Director of Legal and Labour Relations Jeanne Meyers.