The Report

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI How far would you go to help cure lung diseases? How about 5000 kilometres, across North America? On a bike? Thats what Recreation Therapist Cindy Bouvet is doing right now, as this magazine goes to press. She is taking part in The Big Ride Across America, joining a group...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI When the Salvation Army decided to close Wiseman House last fall, HSA members acted quickly to secure assurances that the program would stay open until the spring. Labour Relations Officer Josef Rieder said this allowed the program to continue for a while, and also allowed our members to explore...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by YUKIE KURAHASHI Administrative SecretariesWithout the Administrative Secretaries, the HSA office would likely grind to a halt. Their daily efforts facilitate the work of the labour relations staff, and HSA members enjoy the result: consistent, quality service. Each of HSAs Administrative Secretaries balances a variety of duties, and supports the work of...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by CINDY STEWART The shortage of health professionals has reached a crisis point in many BC communities. This problem was recently highlighted in Prince Goerge where physicians and specialists have sounded the alarm about shortages in their field. However, as HSA members know, the problems are beyond the narrow perspective of any...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by DAN KEETON When Anabel Salazar toured several clinics around northern Vancouver Island and Victoria recently, she was awed by the level of health care services enjoyed by Canadians. But for the Salvadoran activist, the most memorable experience she will take back to her Central American homeland is "the very friendly people...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by JUDITH McCORMACK When an employee believes she has been unjustly disciplined, and the grievance is not resolved, who decides if the grievance gets referred to arbitration? What are some of the considerations? The daily diet of a union representative often includes deciding whether discipline grievances should be carried through to arbitration...

The Report: August / September 2000 vol.21 num.4 by DAN KEETON You might say that Karin Cleven takes her work home with her. After a busy day as a supervisor at SHARE Family & Community Services Society, Cleven plows her energies into securing permanent funding for individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome and their families. Clevens experience in counselling sparked her...

The Report: June / July 2000 vol.21 num.3 by CINDY STEWART All eyes are on Alberta and the impact of Bill 11, the controversial health care legislation that passed third reading on May 11. I was attending the HSA Alberta Annual Convention the day following the Bills final reading and had the opportunity to hear directly from those who are...

The Report: June / July 2000 vol.21 num.3 Downtown Blanshard Advisory CommitteeWelcome! to 51 new members at the Downtown Blanshard Advisory Committee, a Community Social Services facility. Our new members work at nine sites in Victoria, and offer various family and community service programs. They work as youth and family counsellors, after school care workers, administrative assistants, outreach workers, child...

The Report: June / July 2000 vol.21 num.3 What are appropriate rules for the workplace? My employer wants to impose new rules that seem unreasonable to me. Are we required to comply? Canadian workers live every day with a variety of workplace rules that may dictate everything from their hair length to their footwear. In labour law, the employers power...