News & Updates

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 Children with disabilities face a lot of challenges, but with support in the early years, many can overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Now imagine the heartbreak of the parents who learn that funding shortfalls will keep their kids from getting that help – until it's too late. That's the reality for many families...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY DAVID DURNING, HSA OHS OFFICER A recent survey of emergency department staff at Abbotsford Regional Hospital indicated that more than half of those who had recently experienced violence on the job didn't report those events. This finding supports other similar surveys and anecdotal evidence from HSA members indicating that underreporting of violence and aggression...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN "Just what is our union doing for us?" This was the question that set HSA member Doris Peters down a path that led, surprisingly quickly, to becoming a chief steward in June of last year. After four years as a child and youth mental health clinician at Vancouver Children's Hospital, working with...

HSA'S Heather Maschek, Heidi Coates, Stasia Hasumi and Anne Davis were among the many community social service workers who met in Ottawa. HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 Financial pressures, overflowing casework, increasing mental health concerns are just a few of the issues addressed at an October conference for community service workers hosted in Ottawa by the National Union of Public...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 On October 19th, Canadians soundly rejected the Harper Conservatives' refusal to provide federal leadership on health care. Instead, we elected a majority Liberal government which made important promises during the election campaign to improve Canada's public health care system. During the campaign, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised $3 billion over the next four years to...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2015 BY DENNIS BLATCHFORD, HSA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ADVOCATE I am planning to retire sometime next year and am wondering if the formation of the new benefit plan will have any bearing on my retirement benefits? Do you mean retirement benefits or severance benefits? I ask because retirement benefits – health and welfare – are provided...

With flu season around the corner, HSA members are reminded of the provincial influenza control policy in effect in BC.In spite of changes in other provinces, the flu prevention policy in BC has not changed, and health care workers who choose not to be vaccinated have options available to them, including wearing a surgical mask.Health care workers must report their...

Starting with the first pay period after February 1, 2016, most HSA members can expect a pay hike of 0.45% over and above the 5.5% increase rolling out over the life of the current contract. This increase is the result of the Economic Stability Dividend, a feature of the current agreement which requires the government to increase negotiated wages as...

Elections will be held during the coming few weeks to select members to fill the following HSA positions for the coming year: 1. Chief Steward2. Assistant Chief Steward3. General Stewards4. Occupational Health & Safety Stewards and5. Labour Council Delegates (for chapters that are, or wish to become, affiliated to their local labour council). Stewards play an essential role within HSA...

An arbitrator has ordered employers to use a revised medical information form following a grievance filed by the union bargaining association that represents Community Social Services workers. The new information form offers a balance between an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s right to information. Please read the full bulletin here. The new form can be downloaded here.