Demands of Ontario Frontline WorkersJason Fraser is the Chair of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario Ambulance Committee Workers' Forum: A recent CUPE press release refers to paramedics' Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims being denied when they have contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. Can you tell us more? Jason Fraser: The situation was in Waterloo. We had paramedics who contracted COVID-19 in the course of their work. They had contact with a COVID-19 positive patient and they themselves became infected. When they put in their WSIB claim, their employer disputed the claim based on the fact that they were wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) while they were working so they could not have contracted COVID-19 from the patient because, according to the employer, they were well protected. The union's position is that while PPE is a great tool that helps to limit our exposure, it is definitely not a foolproof piece of equipment. PPE could fail, which could result in our becoming infected with COVID-19.
This is one event that occurred. There are other instances throughout the province where paramedics and dispatchers have been required to self-isolate for a number of different reasons. It's a mixed bag as to how employers respond to situations. Some employers are providing payment and supporting their employees if they have to self-isolate under the direction of Public Health wand others are not supporting their employees. They require the workers, if they are full-time and have access to sick time or vacation time to use that leave to be paid. Those who are part-time and don't have access to those leaves have to stay home without pay. This is happening right across the province. One of the Waterloo paramedics was a part-time paramedic with no access to paid sick day from their employer. Paramedic services were allocated $77 million back in the spring of 2020 to offset costs associated with COVID-19. We believe that some of those monies could be allocated towards covering pay for paramedics and dispatchers when they are required to self-isolate, to support them during these difficult times. WF: The CUPE press release also opposes the Ontario government for the wide use of restrictions and punishment of individuals rather than holding employers accountable when workers contract COVID-19. JF: Yes, the Ford government is blaming the citizens of Ontario, saying they are not following appropriate public health measures, including isolation and physical distancing, but it is not holding the employers accountable. If they held the employers accountable and ensured that they supported the workers, which would go a long way in protecting workers and controlling the virus as well. We call upon the Ford government to support the frontline workers that are out there every day and do not have the option of working from home, to support them, to make sure they have paid sick days and make sure workers who are continuing to work are able to support their families.
This article was published in Article Link:   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
We are calling on the Ontario government to do a couple of things,
not just for paramedics but for all essential workers. We believe that
there should be presumptive legislation passed by the government that
provides that if you are an essential worker and you get infected with
COVID-19, it is presumed that you have contracted that virus
through the work you do. Workers' compensation would automatically
apply. We are also calling on the Ford government, and this is a broader
CUPE call, to institute paid sick days for all workers. People should
not have to make a choice between going to work when they are sick and
doing the right thing by staying home and getting better.