News & Updates

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 In response to escalating police involvement in what has been called a mental health crisis, the Vancouver Police department recently produced a report which points to a steady increase in mental health related police incidents and proposed an action plan aimed at moving away from a crisis response model to a more community based, stakeholder driven...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 Several HSA members are working with their professional associations to encourage the provincial government to regulate their professions under the Health Professions Act, and to create a joint regulatory college to oversee the practice of these health science professions. Approximately 6,000 HSA members would be regulated by this joint college. This initiative is supported by the...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 Nicole Gilliss had a burning issue that motivated her to run for office. "When I decided to run for council in 2011, there was no doctor in our little town of Hudson's Hope, and hadn't been for three years. I wanted desperately for council to work towards recruiting a resident physician," says Gilliss. "I've always been...

(deadline extended from original date of FebRUARY 28) HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies. Two aboriginal scholarships will be awarded to aboriginal students in BC.The criteria and details are set out on the application forms...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN Making a positive change in your workplace starts with one simple step: talk to someone. That's how Naleena Gounder sees it. Gounder is a care coordinator at the Assertive Community Treatment Program (ACT) based at Vancouver General Hospital. "If you have concerns, don't just sit on them. Don't assume you can't have a...

The Just Film Festival brings the pursuit of justice to the big screen, featuring social justice and environmental documentaries that go to the heart of issues confronting communities here and around the planet. The focus of the festival is to motivate audiences to action by focusing on issues both local and global. It runs February 28 – March 2 at...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY JEANNE MEYERS, LABOUR RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES As many members know, the process of transitioning to a 37.5 hour work week has been frustrating. From the beginning, employers have misunderstood and misinterpreted the terms of the negotiated agreement. They have attempted to reduce hours of work, eliminate earned days off and even layoff members. None...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT, HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION Negotiating contracts is a big part of what unions do for their members. But it's not the only thing. Yet for the last several years, HSA and other unions have expended the bulk of their resources and time negotiating contracts with governments intent on imposing austerity terms on public...

Surrey Memorial Hospital RPNs Abi Ologani, Tanya Maksymiw and Amanda Farrand HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 A year ago, Tanya Maksymiw didn't know a lot about HSA. In fact, the RPN didn't know a lot about any unions, despite belonging to one union or the other over the last 20 years. And when HSA staff put on an information meeting on...

HSA REPORT, MARCH 2014 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD Q: Now that the collective agreement has been ratified, how will HSA go about moving to a joint governance model for delivering health and welfare benefits? And what does it mean in the short-term? A: Allow me to answer the second question first. It means no change to your health and welfare benefit...