OPSEU and MTO agree on protocols to protect DEC staff against SARS After a long dispute, including work refusals, OPSEU and the employer (MTO) have signed off on protocols to protect Driver Examiner Centre staff from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
A STOP notice is to be posted in areas where the public enters each DEC. Screening guidelines are also provided to employees for use in cases where clients show possible SARS symptoms.
It took a great deal of collective action, time and effort to develop these proposals after the employer initially refused to provide any guidelines to deal with SARS. In the end, DEC staff, working with OPSEU’s Provincial Health and Safety Committee, were able to bring enough pressure to bear on the Ministry that
safety measures were stepped up in the workplace.
A SARS Guideline will be provided. If members encounter clients that have shortness of breath, are coughing, and who appear to be flushed or sweating, staff may proceed to:
• provide the client with a Notice of Collection of Personal Information as in the SARS Guideline.
• ask a series of questions as in the SARS Guideline.
You are permitted to do this only if the person shows all of the above symptoms. Staff cannot ask the questions on the basis of a client belonging to a particular social or ethnic group.
The employer also encourages frequent hand washing, and will provide waterless hand wash.
If members do not have the guideline, or if this protocol has not been followed in your workplace, members should contact their union health and safety representative or steward. More information is available from lmccaskell@opseu.org
Pension questions?
There will be a special session Thursday April 3, 5:30-8:30 at the OPSEU Convention, Sheraton Centre, Conference Room E, about your pension benefits, rights and entitlements during the transfer. For information on future presentations, contact Paul Dunseith (as below).
Organizing: Contact OPSEU at 1-800-268-7376. Organizers for the DEC campaign are Paul Dunseith at ext.355, Ed Ogibowski at ext. 362 and Connie Huziak at ext. 327.
Your Job Security Officer is: Judith Marion, OPSEU x 370 jmarion@opseu.org
Your Reasonable Efforts Committee is: John O’Brien, Hm. (807)-628-8066; cell (807)-628-4364; jobrien2@tbaytel.net ; Gail Kreutzkamp home (519)-742-4017;
gailkreutzkamp@hotmail.com; Stephan Michnowiec, pager, 416-405-0050
Your MERC Team is: John O’Brien (as above), Serge Valcourt (705) 472-7900 x 6490, Robert Houston (519) 372-4045, Peggy Maybury (416) 235-4218. Or contact your Staff Representative or the steward in your workplace.
DEC Notes is published as a regular update for OPSEU staff in Driver Examiner Centres. More information on the government’s planned transfer of services can be viewed at:
http://www.opseu.org/campaign/mtooindex.htm on the OPSEU web site.
Authorized for Distribution:
Leah Casselman, President
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