News & Updates

March 29, 2018 – Tonie Beharrell of HSA’s legal department presented HSA’s submission to the BC government’s Labour Relations Code Review Panel, which took place in Surrey last Thursday. The submission outlines 14 recommendations regarding reform to the Labour Relations Code . From March 21-April 16, the government is hosting 9 public regional consultations across BC. HSA’s recommendations pertain to...

HSA welcomes today’s announcement that government will fund 37,000 more MRI scans in the public system during the coming year, compared to last year. BC has had the longest wait times for MRI in the country for several years, resulting in many patients paying for medically necessary scans at private clinics. Some of these patients then use these scans to...

HSA welcomes the provincial government’s new four-part surgical strategy announced today aimed at reducing wait times for surgery around the province.The initial phase of the strategy includes funding for an additional 4,000 hip and knee replacements in the coming year – an increase of 34 per cent – with long-term funding to continue increasing the number of surgeries in future...

Periods are a fact of life and menstruation products are a necessity. Nobody should have to pick between feeding their family and being able to afford basic hygiene products. Yet far too many people – especially those living in poverty – simply can’t afford them. “We know it is a struggle for food banks and community groups to collect menstruation...

On Feb. 9, 2018, HSA hosted an all-day workshop entitled, "Men as Allies." The workshop, organized by HSA's Education Committee, was an opportunity for men in the union to come together and discuss the role they can play in supporting gender equity work. The workshop created space to explore how men have benefited from patriarchy and sexism, and sought to...

During the next several weeks, HSA members in Region 10 will have an opportunity to elect their representative on HSA's Board of Directors. Nominations for the position closed with two members declaring their candidacy: • Mandi Ayers, a medical laboratory technologist at Bulkley Valley District Hospital in Smithers. • Brent Erskine, a PACS Systems Administrator working out of the Brunswick...

Joe Sebastian will return to represent HSA members in Region 4 on the HSA Board of Directors. Sebastian was acclaimed after the deadline passed with no further nominations. He has worked as a Medical Radiation Technologist for over 18 years and has acted as a general steward at Vancouver General Hospital. He was first elected to the union’s Board of...

During the next several weeks, HSA members in Region 6 will have an opportunity to elect their representative on HSA's Board of Directors. Nominations for the position closed with two members declaring their candidacy: • Theo de Gagne, a psychologist at St. Paul’s Hospital. • Nancy Hay, a social worker at St. Paul’s and Lions Gate Hospitals. In the coming...

Derrick Hoyt will return to represent HSA members in Region 2 on the HSA Board of Directors. Hoyt was acclaimed after the deadline passed with no further nominations. A pathologist assistant, Hoyt has served on the Board of Directors since November 2013. He has been active in HSA for more than 25 years and is currently a member of the...

Health Sciences Association of BC says today’s provincial budget makes critical social investments that will strengthen public services and make life more affordable for all British Columbians. HSA represents 18,000 highly trained specialists working in diagnostic MRI, sonography and lab testing, physiotherapy, social work, radiation therapy, pharmacy, early childhood development and many other health science and social service professions. “HSA...