As employers across Ontario continue to phase-in a return to the traditional workplace during the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19, our members have relayed their concerns about workplace health and safety.
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Executive Board has discussed and debated these issues thoroughly and feels the best way to protect the union’s members and the public is to follow the advice of public health experts, protect personal privacy, and promote healthy and safe workplaces while defending members’ rights.
The Executive Board is committed to following public health advice, as directed by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. The Board believes this is our best chance to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep workers safe. The Executive Board reaffirmed its support for personal health choices and the protection of people’s personal medical information.
In addition, OPSEU/SEFPO will continue to defend its members, and advocate for appropriate PPE and effective policies to ensure their health and safety.
Here is the resolution:
OPSEU/SEFPO Reaffirms Its Commitment to Support Healthy and Safe Workplaces
Whereas OPSEU/SEFPO is a recognized social policy leader; and
Whereas the pandemic is now dominated by the Delta variant; and
Whereas workplaces are incrementally developing human resource policies calling for mandatory vaccines and or mandatory testing; and
Whereas unchallenged, these policies have the potential to create adverse disciplinary measures up to and including dismissal; and
Whereas these workplace policies are being unevenly applied; and
Whereas the return to a traditional workplace paradigm has the potential to exacerbate these negative outcomes; and
Whereas members are asking for OPSEU/SEFPO’s position on mandatory vaccines/testing;
Therefore be it resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO reaffirms its commitment to support healthy and safe workplaces; and
Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO’s position be consistent with the recommendations of the Ontario Chief Medical Officer and the Ontario Science Advisory table; and
Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO supports the rights to an individual’s personal health choices and protection of private and personal medical information; and
Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO stands firmly with Local health and safety committees and their individual work to promote healthy and safe workplaces commensurate with protection of privacy and science-based solutions emanating from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Ontario Science Advisory Table; and
Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO continue to advocate for the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and policies be in place for the protection of all workers; and
Be it further resolved that OPSEU/SEFPO will vigorously defend any and all members subjected to any workplace discipline not commensurate with the above values.