News & Updates

'The National Union has set out a ten step plan for addressing wait-times and putting our Medicare system on stable footing. This report suggests that we are on the right track.' ... James Clancy, NUPGE presidentOttawa (4 Feb. 2008) ... A new report from the Health Council of Canada (HCC) makes an important contribution to the on-going dialogue regarding health...

Today the BC Health Coalition is supporting Canadas nurses and hospital workers, which have teamed up to launch the -Know your Medicare Rights" campaign. The campaign will focus on providing citizens with an opportunity to report incidences of extra-billing and other violations of the Canada Health Act through a new national website. -In British Columbia, and across Canada, the right...

Highlights include a $3 million fund for re-dress and education The HSA Board of Directors has approved a tentative Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government and HEABC that includes a one-time payout of $3-million that will compensate members financially harmed by Bill 29 and establish an educational fund for health science professionals covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining...

Rights, Reels and Resistance is the theme of Co-Development Canada's World Community Film Festival February 8...10 at Langara College.The seventh annual film festival features documentaries set around the globe about social justice and environmental issues. This years theme reflects the urgent need to acknowledge and celebrate resistance and the fight for human rights in communities across the world. For information...

Ottawa (24 January 2008) ... The 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging Canada's provincial and territorial premiers to adopt a comprehensive climate change plan when the Council of the Federation meets next Monday and Tuesday in Vancouver. New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham is the current chair of the federation. The premiers routinely deal with front-line...

1. REGIONAL DIRECTOR ELECTIONSA reminder that Regions 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 are holding elections for Regional Director. All HSA members in these regions are encouraged to put their names forward for nomination. Regional Directors sit on the unions Board of Directors. They meet ten times per year and take an active leadership role in the unions committees. To...

Ottawa (23 Jan. 2008) - A recent proposal by Dr. Brian Day, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), to create private medical schools in Canada is being condemned by Canadas largest organization of health science professionals. -Its no surprise Dr. Day and the CMA would push a private solution to a public problem," says Elisabeth Ballermann, co-chair of the...

HSA President Reid Johnson responds to the Jan. 18, 2008 editorial in The Province on the need for improved wait times in diagnostic testing. Read his letter to the editor here.

In 2005, David Bland, a vocational rehabilitation counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health, was murdered at his workplace by a former client. His tragic death served as a sombre reminder that more needs to be done to prevent incidents of violence in the workplace and to protect health care and social services workers on the job. To honour...

HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. We will be awarding ten scholarships for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and two aboriginal scholarships.The criteria and details are set out on the application forms. To obtain a copy please see the HSA website: www.hsabc.org or contact your chief steward.Completed application forms and transcripts must...