News & Updates

HSA REPORT, JUNE 2014 Laura Dupont understands that her community of Port Coquitlam is all about people and families, and this is motivating her to run for the first time in this fall's municipal election. "Raising a family and spending over a decade volunteering with various groups in the community has kept me involved in my city, says Dupont. "People...

HSA REPORT, JUNE 2014 "We need to be the BC Federation of Labour – not the Downtown Vancouver Federation of Labour." That's how Jim Sinclair, BC Fed President, opened The fourth BC Federation of Labour Regional Conference was held June 6-7 in Kimberley. He was remembering the words of a delegate to the convention that saw the Federation move from...

BC's labour leaders have issued a statement of solidarity with BC’s teachers, who started full-scale strike action across the province today, and are organizing a solidarity rally for Thursday, June 19. Teachers are holding strong against the BC Liberal government’s assault on our public education system. We need to send a clear message to Christy Clark and the BC Liberals...

HSA REPORT, JUNE 2014 The BC Supreme Court has ruled that a group of public health care supporters that includes the BC Health Coalition and Canadian Doctors for Medicare, may submit expert evidence in a BC case that is attempting to destroy Canada's Medicare system. Dr. Brian Day and his for-profit clinics began a legal attack on Medicare in 2009...

HSA REPORT, JUNE 2014 On May 1st, a group of 20 HSA members from around the province and from a range of professions spent the day in Victoria. Meeting with key decision makers in the areas of health care, community social services, skills training, job creation and advanced education, they raised HSA's profile and discussed issues of importance to members...

RPNS Nicole McIntosh and Genelle Sandberg were on hand to promote HSA's work. HSA REPORT, JUNE 2014 HSA and its members played a big role in a recent event hosted by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC. The CRPNBC's annual education day, held in Coquitlam this year, focussed on the various forms of trauma affecting psychiatric nurses and...

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 areas, HSA is offering a 3-day Basic Steward Training workshop at the HSA office this fall: Dates: September 15, 16, 17 Location: HSA Office, 300 – 5118...

BC teachers will conduct rotating strikes beginning next week to back demands for a fair contract that puts students first. The union has provided advance notice of their picket action in order to ensure parents are able to make alternative arrangements. For information about the picketing in your school district, see here: http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Parents/RotatingStrikesMessageT… HSA members who encounter a picket line...

In this issue: Reminder - HSA OH&S Conference – June 16-17, 2014 BC health employers ’application to reduce frequency of N95 respirator fit-testing is denied Domestic violence survey: Can Work Be Safe When Home Isn’t? Have you recently evaluated the effectiveness of your JOHS committee? BC Injured Workers Forum – Working Together for Full Compensation. Have you been exposed to...

Unions are about more than decent jobs for workers. The labour movement also works to make workplaces safe for everyone. Yet, each year thousands of Canadians are killed or injured on the job or die from work-related diseases. In 2012, 979 Canadians died because of their work, but we know the numbers are higher because official figures only capture those...