News & Updates

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by DAN KEETON ts a bucolic setting and so remote: by the urban standards of most Canadians, it would seem working a shift in Queen Charlotte Islands Hospital would be a cakewalk. Derek Barton Chief steward & X-ray technologist Queen Charlotte Islands Hospital Not so, says Derek Barton. The x-ray technologist at the hospitals...

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by RITU MAHIL I will be retiring soon from my employment. Article 34 of the Collective Agreement describes health and welfare coverage as a condition of employment for regular employees and states that the plan becomes effective on the 1st of the calendar month following the date of hire. My retirement date falls mid...

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by RAE JOHNSON malgamations. Privatization. Restructuring. Layoffs. Service cuts. Multi-site chiefs. Imposed conditions of employment. The only thing constant about the working conditions in health care is change. It is constant, multi-faceted, relentless• and it is taking a toll on health science professionals as they struggle to meet the ever increasing needs of patients...

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by RON OHMART y now, most members have seen the newspaper ads the provincial government is running about the cost of health care. The clear message in the ads is: ‘if only health care professionals would just stop getting so much money, our public health care system would be better off.’ That’s the tune...

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by CINDY STEWART ast fall, HSA was deeply involved with yet another provincial review of laboratory services. At that time, I shared with you my skepticism about the process, but said the union was willing to give it a try because we have consistently advocated for review of the system to make it better...

The Report: October 2003 vol.24 num.5 by MIRIAM SOBRINO t started at work. HSAs communications and member mobilizing department participated in a womens health care event. We were on hand to give out information about the annual breast cancer awareness and fundraising event, the Run for the Cure. Our mission was to let people know that HSA is the union...

The Health Sciences Association of BC announced today a $10,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross BC Forest Fire Fund, to support relief efforts in British Columbia's devastating forest fires."This has been a devastating month for hundreds of families across BC. The immediate danger and personal stress has taken a toll on whole communities - from residents and volunteers to...

EB03-21HSA is offering a basic OH&S steward workshop on October 20 & 21, 2003. Occupational health and safety issues are very important to HSA members. OH&S stewards have a vital role in promoting a safe work environment and helping to prevent injuries. These workshops will be participatory and discussion oriented. We urge you to bring examples from your workplace for...

EB03-22 EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION The BC Federation of Labour's Occupational Health and Safety Education Project is now offering the basic course worker representatives and health and safety committee members need to be effective, as well as advanced courses on specific topics. These courses are only open to OH&S stewards who are members of their worksite's...

The Report: August 2003 vol.24 num.4 by DAN KEETON n Joan Magee’s case, working part time doesn’t mean spending more time on the couch. “It frees me up to do other things during the week,” said the lab technologist and HSA’s chief steward at Cariboo Regional Hospital. Joan Magee Chief steward & medical technologist Cariboo Regional Hospital The community of...