News & Updates

As the union of specialized professionals delivering modern health care and community services, it’s time to modernize some of the language we use. HSA is dedicated to meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the importance of which is reinforced by ongoing revelations of institutional abuse through the Canadian residential school system. That means seeking to use respectful and inclusive language wherever...

HSA is pleased to offer a one-day workshop focused on the impact domestic violence has on workers and workplaces, and the role of employers and unions in keeping workplaces safe. The workshop will feature two guest experts: Anne Davis, an HSA member and transition house worker with expertise and training in anti-violence, and Kamal Dhillon, author of I am Kamal...

Please note that applications for this fund are not yet open. Members will be notified when application forms are available. The Health Sciences Association of BC is pleased to announce $3 million in new funding for professional development of health science professionals. The new funding, secured from the BC Ministry of Health, is the latest in the union’s long-standing program...

HSA Contract Interpretation for Stewards Following basic steward training, many stewards request additional training to build their confidence in dealing with complex workplace issues. This one-day training session is for stewards to enhance their skills in grievance handling, workplace investigations and respect in the workplace issues. Participants will have the opportunity to learn advocacy skills, how to prepare for stage...

HSA is pleased to offer this one-day virtual workshop specifically designed for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) stewards and Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) representatives working to support members with their occupational health and safety concerns. DATE: November 29, 2022 TIME: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm LOCATION: Virtual – WebEx details to follow Level Two OH&S Steward Training This...

The BC government’s Ministry of Health has introduced a new program that will help MRI technologist students graduate earlier and enter the workforce sooner, an initiative that will help tackle serious shortages in one of the key health science professions. The initiative takes the form of a bursary program for the British Columbia Institute of Technology MRI Advanced Certificate program...

Date: October 13, 2022 Time: 9 am to 4:30 pm Location: Virtual, via Webex Each year in Canada, one in five people will experience a mental health problem or illness. Over a lifetime that number increases to one in three. The cost of mental health problems or illness costs our economy more than 51 billion dollars. T he objective of...

HSPBA Bargaining Update: Frequently-Asked Questions on Bargaining and Job Action The HSPBA bargaining committee is engaged in focused discussions with the employer through most of June. The discussions are being led by subgroups of the committee negotiating matters related to managing union leave disputes and expedited arbitration procedures. Negotiations continue, and progress is being made, but more slowly than hoped...

Earlier this month, the first Bi-Annual HSA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Report was released. The report provided key definitions, goals, and principles that set out a foundation for shared understanding of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion issues and terms. It also described four priority areas of focus for the coming months, first of which was a demographic survey to members...

Community social services bargaining is on a scheduled break this week and will resume next week at the bargaining table. Before the break, your bargaining committee started to talk about monetary priorities with the employers’ representatives. We expect those discussions to continue when bargaining resumes. Your bargaining committee is bringing forward the priorities of members and is working hard to...