News & Updates

REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HSA Months of uncertainty ended July 9. That's when an historic agreement between the NDP and Green Party of BC created a governing coalition that could hold a majority of seats in the BC Legislature, and bring down the minority BC Liberal government that had been hanging on since the May election...

REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY CAROL RIVIERE, HSA COMMUNICATIONS Choosing the politicians who govern our communities at the municipal or regional district level, and the school trustees who make decisions that affect our children's education, is a critical issue for working families. Over the next few months, several communities around the province will hold by-elections to fill vacant positions, and...

BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE Q: I have been following the Health Sciences Benefit Trust (JHSBT) for Health Science Professional Bargaining Association members, and am wondering if there is any news about benefits for community social services professionals. I understood there was a commitment to review benefit plans in my sector as well. Is that the case...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017 BY GERI GRIGG, HSA OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICEER Each year more than 20 per cent of Canadians experience a mental health issue or illness. Mental health claims represent 30 per cent of all disability claims and account for 70 per cent of total costs. Suffering from mental health issues can lead to absenteeism, presentism...

The Hospital Employees' Union issued 72-hour strike notice late Friday as HEU members in the contracted support service sector continue to bargain for a fair deal. Union members are now in a legal position to take job action to back their demands in bargaining. B.C. hospital housekeeping and dietary workers gave their union bargaining committee an almost unanimous strike mandate...

Unions and the labour movement are a huge force for positive change for union members, workers and society as a whole. We owe everything from safe worksites, paid vacations, pensions, universal health care and much more to our unions. Come out and celebrate everything we have achieved, and that we continue to work for, together in the labour movement. Solidarity...

HELP COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE In communities across BC, thousands of people are suffering BC’s worst forest fire season in many years. Health care professionals, including members of HSA, have stepped up by asking how they can work to help their colleagues deliver health in affected regions. The Ministry of Health, working with HealthLink BC, has responded by creating a...

“The BC Federation of Labour believes strongly that human rights are workers’ rights, and that systemic discrimination of marginalized workers needs to be addressed at the highest level,” said Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour. see full release here: http://bcfed.ca/news/releases/bcfed-welcomes-re-establishment-bc-human-…

HSA's annual regional fall meetings have been scheduled for September and October 2014. Regional meetings are an excellent forum for HSA members to review the issues and activities of the past year, and to discuss the opportunitie and challenges that lie ahead for the union. Delegates from in odd-numbered regions will also elect Members-at-Large to represent them on union committees...

Members of CUPE Local 1816 have been involved in a lengthy labour dispute with Pacific Blue Cross over the company’s decision to claw back retiree benefits for current employees. PBC has refused to withdraw this serious concession and will not attend the bargaining table unless the union accepts the concession. Since July 7, these workers have been locked out by...