News & Updates

Have you ever considered getting more involved in the union but felt you couldn't, for a variety of reasons? The Women's Committee of the Health Sciences Association of BC is conducting a survey of women in the union to identify barriers that may keep them from participating in union leadership roles and/or union activities (eg meetings, education). The Women's Committee...

Following a consultation process that can only be described as a sham, BC Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid – on the day before the current government dissolves – announced today the enactment of legislation that dramatically changes the structure of collective bargaining in health care, HSA President Reid Johnson said today. “On her last day on the job, Health Minister Margaret...

THE REPORT: APRIL 2013 Medical Laboratory technologists at (PHSA) Whistler Health Care Centre joined HSA on February 27. The employees approached HSA about becoming members of the union and the decision to join was unanimous. This new chapter is a first – no other employees of Whistler Health Care Centre are unionized. "The Whistler Health Care Centre laboratory has evolved...

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid on Monday announced that new nursing legislation had been signed into law, bringing licensed practical nurses under the same bargaining structure as the B.C. Nurses’ Union. The legislation – Bill 18, the Health Authorities Amendment Act – passed last month over the objections of the Hospital Employees’ Union, which called the legislation a last-minute change prepared...

A 3% wage increase is now in effect for registered psychiatric nurses covered by the Nurses’ Bargaining Association provincial contract. You can see your new wage rate here. Have you seen HSA’s special page for RPNs? You can see it here: hsabc.org/rpns

In a recent letter from human resources managers at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, employees have been told they will be moving to a five-day 7.5 hour work week and that nine-day fortnights and EDOs will be eradicated. The letter completely misrepresents the negotiated agreement reached on the shift to a 37.5 hour work week from the current 36 hour work...

With the exception of some portions of the collective agreement ratified March 6, all provisions of the HSPBA collective agreement come into force and effect today, April 5, 2013. There are some exceptions, as specified in negotiations, as follows: Wages A wage increase of 2 per cent for all members, excluding pharmacists, will be implemented. This increase is effective the...

The 2012-2014 HSPBA collective agreement includes a new $225,000 Professional Development Fund for use by all HSPBA members, including HSA members, over the term of the collective agreement. To maximize the number of members eligible to apply for the funding, there will be two deadlines: One for courses commenced between April 1, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and another for...

THE REPORT: APRIL 2013 BY REID JOHNSON PRESIDENT, HSA As The Report magazine went to press, our community social service members were just voting on their tentative agreement. But for most members, another hard round of bargaining has come to an end. I'm proud of the new agreements. Are they perfect? No. But in this bargaining climate, with the government...

THE REPORT: APRIL 2013 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN Registered psychiatric nurse Danielle Garden is a woman with a mission: making life better for psychiatric patients. This goal shapes everything she does — her interactions with patients, her relationships with co-workers and supervisors, her career choices, and her union involvement. Two years ago, after graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychiatric nursing...