News & Updates

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 by RICK LAMPSHIRE When the Liberals were elected in a landslide victory on May 17, we all knew that British Columbia was in for “a new era.” This new era was going to make British Columbia a better place for all British Columbians, Gordon Campbell told voters. Well, in the first 90...

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 by REID JOHNSON As a first-time member of a negotiating committee, I looked forward to the round of bargaining for a new collective agreement. I believed that as an active union member, the unions secretary-treasurer, and a trained social worker I would bring to the table a combination of skills that would...

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 by CINDY STEWART It has been a very difficult six months for the union, and each and every one of our members. In January, your bargaining committee set out to negotiate a collective agreement that included a substantial wage increase for all our members. That was the mandate: a wage increase that...

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 by LEYA BEHRA Leya Behra, daughter of HSA member Zaheda Behra, has won the Tommy Douglas Scholarship offered through the National Union of Public and General Employees. Leya Behras imagination brought Tommy Douglas -sad and restless spirit" to speak to us. Leyas mother, Zaheda, is a medical radiation technologist at Vancouver General...

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 Liberals begin attacks on BC health care by MIRIAM SOBRINO and YUKIE KURAHASHI Last month, the Liberal government celebrated its first three months in office by announcing it had met its campaign promise of delivering on a number of programs within a 90-day time-frame. One of the promises was to deliver health...

The Report: September / October 2001 vol.22 num.4 by CAROL RIVIERE The last round of collective bargaining in the Community Social Services sector established an Accord on Preventing Violence in the Workplace. Pursuant to this accord, HSA and the other unions representing workers in the sector are working with the Community Social Services Employers Association and representatives from the provincial...

HSA President Cindy Stewart said the legislation passed this afternoon imposing a contract on health science professionals will throw the health care system in British Columbia into chaos."The government had a number of options, and it was our understanding as late as Tuesday morning that the Minister of Labour was prepared to continue negotiations," Stewart said."But Premier Gordon Campbell obviously...

Thank you for coming tonight.I want to start my comments by saying the actions of HSA members right across British Columbia these past two days have not been about defying legislation. They have been about achieving a collective agreement.HSA members have shown they are resolved to get a contract that values their contribution to our health care system.They have been...