News & Updates

HSA President Val Avery welcomed the new government’s first formal Throne Speech today, which focused on affordability for British Columbians and charting a course for change from the 16 years of the old government that saw support for BC families deteriorate dramatically. Highlights of the Throne Speech, which lays out the NDP government’s framework for the upcoming legislative session, include...

Do you know someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the area of occupational health and safety, improving the lives of their fellow HSA members? Consider nominating them for the David Bland Memorial Award. In 2005, David Bland was killed at his workplace by a former client. David worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor at Richmond Mental Health. His tragic...

Hello all CSS HSA Members; CSSEA and CSSBA have agreed on the distribution of the April 1, 2018 Comparability and Classification Anomaly Wage Increases. The intention of the Comparability Adjustment is to close the wage gap with comparator classifications in Community Health. The detailed agreement and wage schedules is here. Thank you. Printer Friendly Version

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 370,000 members. HSA is a component of NUPGE. Each year, the 370,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) offers 5 scholarships of $1,500 each that reflect its pursuit of equal opportunity for workers. Entrants must be the children, grandchildren or...

HSA’s Women’s Committee is pleased to offer an opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day by providing a two- day education workshop on March 8 and 9, 2018. The education workshop, to be held at the union office in New Westminster, will focus on training for women to support increased participation in leadership roles at all levels within HSA, the labour...

New Island Health travel reimbursement policy violates HSPBA contract Policy raises barriers to reimbursement of work-related expenses HSA has filed a policy grievance with Island Health Authority for introducing a policy related to travel expenses that violates the collective agreement. IHA has updated its 2006 Travel policy for staff who are required to travel and/or use personal vehicles for work...

The savings resulting from the 50 per cent reduction in Medical Services Plan premiums introduced by the BC government January 1, 2018 must be directed to employees, says Jeanne Meyers, HSA’s Executive Director of Legal and Labour Relations. Under the HSPBA collective agreement, employers pay 100 per cent of MSP benefits, representing a benefit negotiated on behalf of members. “Savings...

CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev), a BC-based non-governmental organization working for social change in the Americas, is inviting interested HSA members to travel with a learning delegation to Guatemala in March 2018 to meet with some of CoDev’s partner organizations supporting women in Guatemala, who face enormous economic and social challenges. The ten-day delegation is scheduled for March 17 to 26. Participants...

Health Sciences Association of BC (HSABC) has partnered with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) to offer an Addiction Social Work Fellowship. As the leading union in providing multidisciplinary care services for British Columbians living with mental health and substance use challenges, HSA is committed to the professional development of health science professionals working in the field. "The...

2018 HSA OH&S Conference Save the Date! Hello all HSA Stewards, EDMP reps, and JOHS Committee reps! The OH&S Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver on June 4 and 5, 2018. The Conference is open to any member representing HSA members on a Joint Health and Safety Committee, OH&S Stewards and Alternates and EDMP Representatives...