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BC Health Strike

December 3, 2012
Canadian Press Members of the BC Health Sciences Association say they will begin strike action this week after months of inaction at the bargaining table. Hospital pharmacists will reduce their work to essential services this Wednesday and, on Friday, medical imaging techs will do the same. Association president Reid Johnson says members are frustrated after eight months of negotiations with no progress.

BC Health Strike

December 3, 2012
Canadian Press Negotiations resume today for members of the B-C Health Sciences Association who are planning job action at health care facilities later this week to press their contract demands. The action begins Thursday -- a day later than first planned -- when pharmacists go to essential service levels, followed by medical imaging techs on Friday.

Rotating strikes planned for Thursday, Friday as health science professionals pressure for a new union contract

December 3, 2012
As health science professionals return to the bargaining table today, plans to begin rotating strikes have been delayed one day to demonstrate good faith in the bargaining process. Talks between the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association and Health Employers Association of BC are scheduled to continue through the week. With the change, the rotating strikes will begin Thursday, December 6. That day, pharmacy services at BC hospitals will be reduced to essential service levels only from 9 a.m. to midnight. There will be no picket lines.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: inclusion for all

December 3, 2012
On December 3, the world recognizes International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is calling on all levels of government in Canada to make full participation in society for people with disabilities a policy priority. People with disabilities already make a considerable contribution to our society but they could do so much more if the barriers to their participation are removed.

Health science professionals delay job action by one day ... pharmacists to be reduced Thursday, Dec. 6

December 2, 2012
In order to demonstrate support for continued bargaining, the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association has delayed plans for rotating strikes by one day. Instead of reducing pharmacy services to essential service levels Wednesday, the job action will commence Thursday, December 6 at 9 a.m. and continue until midnight Thursday.

A mandate to seek fairness

December 1, 2012
The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 IN OUR LONG HISTORY, HSA MEMBERS HAVE RARELY FELT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PREPARE FOR A STRIKE. Our health science professional members have only gone on strike three times before now, and the last time more than 11 years ago. Its not something we take lightly. That is why it is so extraordinary that 90% of our health science professional members just voted in favour of a strike.

Job action: How will it affect you?

December 1, 2012
The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 IN AN IDEAL WORLD, STRIKES WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. Employees and employers would meet at the bargaining table, discuss bargaining proposals based upon reason, justice and mutual respect. They would use objective data and negotiate a settlement. In reality, that is often what happens. However, sometimes there are significantly different points of view about what is -reasonable," -just" and -objective." When that happens, settlements depend on strength and determination. PROTECTING OUR PATIENTS

Health science members vote to strike

December 1, 2012
The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 HEALTH SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS DELIVERED A RESOUNDING 90 PERCENT STRIKE VOTE TO BACK THEIR BARGAINING COMMITTEE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH BC'S HEALTH EMPLOYERS.

Rotating strikes support vulnerable families

December 1, 2012
The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 SINCE 2004, THE BC LIBERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SLASHED $300 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, VULNERABLE WOMEN, AT-RISK YOUTH, AND CHILDREN AND INFANTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ACROSS THE PROVINCE. Community social service workers have faced a decade of declining wages. The current starting wage for a residential care worker is $15.54 an hour. In 2002, it was $16.83. Factoring in inflation, thats a 22 percent wage cut.

Nurses tied down by tie-in

December 1, 2012
The Report: December 2012 vol.33 num.4 NURSES NEW CONTRACT MAKES ACCESS TO MEDICATION HARDER PENSIONS Q AND A BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSION AND BENEFIT ADVOCATE Q. As a new HSA member who falls under the Nurses Bargaining Association (NBA) contract, could you please explain to me what the -PharmaCare tie-in" is all about?

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