News & Updates

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2016 HSA members are looking ahead to the May 9, 2017 provincial election, and getting the training they need to make a real difference. Stasia Hasumi is already jumping in with both feet. "I've been a community activist for a while, but after serving on HSA's Political Action Committee last year, I saw how important it...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2016 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER In recent months there have been reports of hazardous asbestos abatement incidents in several BC health care facilities and labs. This is potentially exposing workers and members of the public to deadly asbestos fibres. It's estimated that more than 145,000 Canadian workers are exposed to asbestos in their workplaces...

Members have told HSA that workload issues caused by shortages of key health science professionals have reached critical levels. In a series of surveys conducted over the summer, members from across BC and a range of professions expressed concern that workload was making it difficult to deliver quality care, and leaving patients waiting too long for important procedures. To address...

You're invited to join with HSA and other labour unions as part of the Multi-Union Pride group in the Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Arrive between 12 and 12:30 pm. Marching is open to all HSA members, their families and friends. We will meet on Thurlow Street, between Robson and Haro, by 12:15 pm at the latest...

During bargaining for the current community health collective agreement, the parties agreed in Memorandum of Agreement #34 to investigate the need to establish a new benchmark for the job Medical Office Assistant. To assist with the required investigation, a union survey has been developed for distribution to Community Health Subsector members whose job description features the job title Medical Office...

Members working at West Coast Medical Imaging have voted in favour of accepting the terms of a new collective agreement. 73% voted in favour of ratification during votes in Vancouver and Victoria earlier this week. The agreement provides improvements in sick leave, family illness, vacation access and uniform policy. Over the coming months, HSA and the employer will meet to...

Nadeem Zia (centre, blue tie) HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JULY 2016 Surrey Memorial Hospital pharmacist Nadeem Zia was recently invited as a guest speaker to the 19th International Pharmacy Conference and Exhibition in Lahore, Pakistan. “I was very interested to go so I started planning the overseas trip,” said Zia. “My first challenge was getting vacation time, and the second was...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JULY 2016 Q: I have been following the recent announcement that our pension plan is making changes to retiree benefits in 2017 – including eliminating subsidies for dental coverage. As someone planning to retire in about 10 years, I’m wondering if I can count on benefits still being available when I retire. If not, I may have...

HSA has sent a letter of support to the US Association of Vascular and Interventional Radiographers, whose members are now threatened by policy changes that would allow nurses to perform their laboratory and imaging work. "As the union representing 75 unique health science professions here in BC, we know that these professions require extensive training and unique skills," writes Val...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE JULY 2016 BY VAL AVERY, PRESIDENT I am very proud of what we have achieved in the last 45 years. I am especially proud of what we have been able to achieve in these last few years. In the face of governments determined to squeeze our members for every penny, we have adapted, finding ways to achieve...