News & Updates

With BC entering the third state of provincial emergency of 2021, HSA is offering financial assistance to members who are being displaced from their homes due to overland flooding in Abbotsford, Merritt and Princeton. HSA members in these areas and in need of immediate assistance can qualify for $500 in emergency funding by completing the following declaration form. Funds will...

Do you work in the community social services sector? Are you looking for opportunities for training in mental health and addictions issues? The Canadian Mental Health Association and BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions have teamed up to offer the free Workplace CARE certificate program. The program is free, and consists of two self-paced virtual courses which can be...

Upcoming Steward Workshops: Virtual Basic Steward Training and Virtual OH&S Training Registration Information: Stewards may register by logging into My Events Registration. Workshops are listed under Steward Education events. Virtual Basic Steward Training (3 days in series) Stewards play a vital role in the union. Particularly important is the steward's role in contract interpretation, organizing and the grievance procedure. In...

Are you a young HSA member (35 and under) interested in increased young worker participation in the union?The union’s board of directors is seeking members aged 35 and younger to get involved in HSA's Young Workers’ Advisory Group.The Advisory Group’s purpose is to work to understand how HSA is relevant to young workers (those 35 and under) and how to...

Scholarships and bursaries available for HSA members and their families HSA is offering scholarships and bursaries to all members and their children. Ten scholarships will be awarded for full-time studies, twenty bursaries for full-time studies and four bursaries for part-time studies. Two indigenous bursaries will be awarded to indigenous students in BC who are pursing education in an HSA related...

The next meeting of HSA's BIPOC Caucus will be held on Tuesday, November 2 from 7 pm - 8 pm. All members who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC) are welcome to attend the BIPOC Caucus meeting. At this meeting, the following topics will be discussed: Status update on the formation of the union's Racial Justice Committee...

Monday, October 25 th is an important day to make the case for paid sick leave for all. HSA members are invited to participate in a Covid-safe Day of Action at the provincial legislature in Victoria and at SkyTrain stations in Burnaby and Surrey to call on Premier John Horgan and the BC government to lead the country and enshrine...

2022 Canadian Labour Congress Winter School One of Canada's best labour schools, held at Harrison Hot Springs, in January and February 2022. The CLC Winter School offers a wide variety of four-day, quality labour-oriented courses. To support HSA's ability to represent HSA members effectively and help build a stronger union, members can apply to take courses chosen to meet these...

A new report released today by the Health Sciences Association provides the first comprehensive assessment of the state of public rehabilitative care in BC. The report’s findings paint a troubling picture of severe staffing shortages, a lack of services in many communities, and long wait times for patients and clients, including children and their families. We’re Chronically Understaffed: A Report...

All HSA members covered by the HSPBA collective agreement are reminded that the deadline for submission of bargaining proposals is November 7, 2021. The primary and most important source for bargaining proposals is from HSA members through HSA chapter meetings, where, collectively, members consider and agree on priorities for bargaining to support all members covered by the collective agreement. The...