News & Updates

Today – Friday, February 28 – marks two important deadlines that are part of the transition to the profile-based classification system: Retro Pay. If you are entitled to retro pay, today is the deadline for the employer to pay you. Please check your recent pay stubs to ensure that you were paid correctly. If you have not received your retro...

HSA members working in child development centres and services are invited to join with other HSA members working with children and youth with support needs at a special briefing on HSA's ongoing advocacy on this topic. HSA has been calling for changes to the child development sector for many years. This advocacy has positioned HSA to be a leading voice...

HSA’s first-ever Equity Summit, held in Vancouver February 19, brought together HSA members to connect and learn about a more equitable working world. Following a welcome and opening from Elder Ann Seaweed, member of HSA’s Indigenous Circle and a social worker at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, HSA President Kane Tse introduced the guest speakers who shared their perspectives on the...

For most of us, the ability to speak is something we take for granted. For Meara Brown’s patients, however, communication is a skill they must relearn entirely. As a speech language pathologist specializing in laryngectomy care with Island Health, Meara restores voices—both literally and figuratively—by helping people who have undergone the removal of their larynx regain their ability to speak...

Unfortunately, we’ve become aware that email scammers are targeting HSA members, activists, and staff with malicious email messages that impersonate our senior leadership. The members and staff who received these messages became suspicious as, upon a closer look, the messages came from an email address that is not associated with HSA. Please be assured that HSA takes online and data...

Most HSA members covered by the HSPBA collective agreement have had a fairly smooth transition to the new profile-based classification system since it was fully implemented on December 6, 2024. In many cases, the new system has resulted in an additional pay increase for members, and if that’s you, please take a look at the new wage schedules to confirm...

Editor’s note: Lisa has been elected to represent HSA Region 5 on the Board of Directors and will join the Board of Directors on adjournment of the 2025 HSA annual convention Friday, April 11. When a child walks into a hospital, it’s not only a sickness or physical condition they’re battling—it’s also their fear and uncertainty. For years, certified child...

A new national survey from National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) shows health care workers across Canada are struggling with short staffing, burnout, and inadequate wages. Almost 400 HSA members in BC participated in the nation-wide survey of more than 6,000 health professionals. The survey was conducted late last year. The survey results reinforce the importance of what...

Domestic Violence Workshop 2025: Trauma and Resistance Date: April 15, 2025 Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (PST) Location: Virtual via Zoom HSA is pleased to have Vikki Reynolds return to facilitate this one-day workshop on responding to domestic violence by addressing power, justice, solidarity, and safety. HSA is pleased to have Vikki Reynolds return to facilitate this one-day workshop...

Nominations are now open for the position of HSA President, to be elected in April in an online vote open to all HSA members. The President is HSA’s senior elected officer, and oversees the union’s day-to-day operations, including staffing and budget management. The President is the union’s primary spokesperson and ensures that the policies and decisions of annual conventions and...