News & Updates

HSA President Val Avery presented to the provincial legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services this week, and urged government to invest wisely in the people who deliver the health care and social services British Columbians rely on. “The provincial government’s promising and ambitious new health care directions will require health human resources planning for health science professionals...

The Young Workers’ Committee (YWC) is a standing committee of the BC Federation of Labour (BC Fed) dedicated to encouraging union participation among young people and to address inequity that young workers face as a result of discriminatory beliefs, policies, and legislation. The Young Workers’ Committee, through the creation of the Employee Action and Rights Network (EARN) fights on behalf...

Quality public health care continues to be the focus for HSPBA negotiators Negotiating teams head back into talks tomorrow to continue bargaining for a new collective agreement for the province’s 18,000 health science professionals working in hospitals and communities around the province. Discussions have centred on measures to enhance job security, including addressing internal equity issues, improving the delivery of...

Solidarity for Everyone An HSA Diversity Workshop DATE: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 TIME: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm LOCATION: HSA Head Office - 180 East Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC Solidarity Includes Everyone: Transgender people and your union. This is an awareness-raising day-long workshop on the challenges facing trans workers in communities, workplaces, and unions. We will explore how unions...

Update on Contract Talks for BC's Health Science Professionals The first two weeks of bargaining for a new collective agreement for the province’s 18,000 health science professionals working in hospitals and communities around the province concluded last week after a series of meetings between unions, represented by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and employers represented by the Health...

Strengthening health services for Indigenous peoples An interview with Charlene Hellson, Aboriginal Wellness Program Coordinator, Vancouver Coastal Health The Report, September 2018 Charlene Hellson began her work with Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Aboriginal Health Department in October, 2017. As coordina tor of the Aboriginal Wellness Program, she is integral to the work of her team. She coordinates and chairs team...

Proportional representation: a more democratic way to do politics The Report, September 2018 If a party gets 40 per cent of the votes, it should receive 40 per cent of the seats. This is the central feature of a proportional representation (PR) electoral system. While there are different models of PR that achieve this, all variations of PR seek to...

“IT’S OFTEN THE BUY-IN TO STAY IN RECOVERY” MUSIC THERAPY AS A TOOL FOR REHABILITATION The Report , September 2018 Most people assume music therapy is either a sing-along or relaxation, according to HSA member and music therapist Kevin Kirkland. “That is part of what you do, but just a small part.” When Kirkland first graduated with a bachelor’s degree...

HSA Basic Steward/OH&S Training Dates 2019 Registration Information: Stewards may register by logging into My Events Registration. Workshops are listed under Steward Education events. Basic Steward Training Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In recognition of the need for educating new stewards in these...

Bargaining for a new collective agreement for BC’s 18,000 health science professionals working in hospitals and communities throughout the province gets underway this week as bargaining representatives for the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) and Health Employers’ Association of BC (HEABC) are set to begin contract negotiations tomorrow in Vancouver. Led by the Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA)...