News & Updates

A byelection for election of Regional Director for Region 2 (lower Vancouver Island) has been called today to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Val Avery as HSA president. Avery, who has served as HSA’s vice president since May 2009, was appointed president upon the resignation of Reid Johnson, as provided under the union’s constitution. Nominations for Regional...

HSA's Board of Directors announces the resignation of President Reid Johnson effective today, September 11, 2013. As provided under the union's constitution, vice president Val Avery, a physiotherapist at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, steps in as the new president. An election will be held at the union's April 2014 annual convention. First elected as president in April 2007, Johnson...

RPN members have expressed concern that an upcoming round of votes ordered by the Labour Relations Board will result in HSA members becoming members of another union. This is not the case. The votes will not involve RPNs, and to date, the Labour Relations Board has not given any indication that its decision will have any bearing on HSA's right...

BC's unions invite you to the Annual Labour Day Picnic Monday, September 2 at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.at John Hendy Park at Trout Lake in Vancouver. The famil-oriented day will feature music by Jim Byrnes, No Sinner, and Bend Sinister By sktrain: get off at Broadway Station. The park is at 12th Avenue and Grandview Highway. Free hot dogs...

The Canadian (CLC) has endorsed a national consumer boycott of the following Labatt imported products: Stella Artois Staropramen Stella Artois Light Bodingtons Beck's Bass Brahma Löwenbräu Hoegaarden Ozujsko Pivo Leffe The boycott is in support of National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) members on strike at the Labatt’s plant in Newfoundland & Labrador. They have been on strike...

HSA members at Paragon Orthotic Lab in Victoria, a manufacturer of custom footwear orthotics, have voted unanimously in favour of accepting a four-year collective agreement. Highlights of the agreement include wage increases equal to the cost of living, or a minimum of 2 per cent, in the third and fourth years of the agreement, in addition to increased benefit coverage...

http://healthcoalition.ca/new-poll-carries-stark-warning-to-harper/

HSA members throughout the province who are running for office or working in upcoming municipal by-elections may apply to HSA for financial support from HSA's Political Action Fund. Municipal, Board of Education and Regional District elections 1. Members who are candidates in a civic election may apply for up to 5 days of wage replacement and/or up to $200 to...

Families and advocates for children with serious mental health challenges are speaking out against a month-long closure of the child psychiatry inpatient unit at BC Children’s Hospital. The month-long closure from July 19 to August 19 is to allow for a redesign of the treatment model used at the unit. The program is being redesigned from a 24/7 inpatient program...

Services for vulnerable families may be cut across B.C. following the government's failure to provide bridge funding for a 1.5 per cent wage increase that was negotiated for frontline workers earlier this year, the Community Social Services Bargaining Association says. Family service workers provide vital community-based social programs for vulnerable children, struggling youth and families across British Columbia. Community living...