Community social services

Are you affected by precarious work – employment that is insecure, unprotected, lacking in regular work and/or benefits, and that cannot support a family? Your union – Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA) -- , the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA), and the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) are working together to study the extent of precarious work...

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, JUNE 2017 Recognition of diversity is now essential to the health of our society and the strength of organizations. Today, leading institutions seek to understand the unique experience of their members in order to better represent and serve them. HSA has long sought to understand and respect the diversity of our members, and in March, almost 800...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 HSA President Val Avery was invited to speak as a special guest at the Early Childhood Educators of BC conference in May. HSA served as a sponsor for the conference and Avery took part in a panel discussion on building professionalism. "As a union, we are commited to working to advocate for the many professions...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2017 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE I received HSA's recent clarification on payroll changes and the reference to members' long-term disability contributions now being directed to the new Joint Health Sciences Benefit Trust (JHSBT). Since the JHSBT is now receiving benefit contributions, I'm wondering what members might expect now. The new JHSBT did...

The Community Social Services Employers Association and Community Social Services Barganining Association Committee has been working jointly to determine necessary wage adjustments, which are scheduled for April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018. The wage grids for 2017, including the Economic Stability Dividend and General Wage Increase, will be released shortly. The committee reviewed all 62 benchmarks and agreed to...

Printer-friendly version.Starting with the first pay period after February 1, 2017, most HSA members can expect a pay increase of 0.35% over and above the 5.5% increase rolling out over the life of the current contract. This increase is the result of the Economic Stability Dividend, a feature of the current agreement which requires the government to increase negotiated wages...

Important information about bc government changes that affect your drug coverage plan The BC Government has announced that the Reference Drug Program, which forms part of the provincial PharmaCare plan, will be expanding effective December 1, 2016. What this means for all HSA members who work under public sector contracts (HSPBA, NBA, CSSEA, CBA) is that some medications which are...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2016 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HSA We're hearing a lot of interesting things from members like you. Over the summer, HSA circulated several surveys and invited members to participate in focus groups. Each explored different challenges and opportunities facing our union, and we'll be following up this fall with additional surveys, worksite visits and the annual...

Your elected HSA representatives and staff have been hard at work since the union's 45th convention in May. The upcoming regional meetings will be a good opportunity to provide updates on that work, and a chance for stewards and other activists to connect and discuss the issues in your region. In preparation for those meetings, please take a few minutes...