FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2000

Health and safety should be top priorities for new labour law: OPSEU

TORONTO - Improved workplace health and safety should be the government’s highest priority if it wants to change the province’s labour laws, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says.

“Up to 6,000 Ontarians a year die because of work-related diseases,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. “If the government wants to change the law, they should start with taking steps to stop these all-too-preventable deaths.”

Ontario Labour Minister Chris Stockwell is expected to announce new labour legislation this week.

“Changes to health and safety laws are urgently needed,” said Casselman. “It really is a matter of life and death.”

Casselman said accepted exposure levels for workplace toxins should be lowered immediately. Employers must be required to survey their workplaces for toxic hazards, she added.

Whistleblowing legislation isn’t just for public inquiries, Casselman said; it can also be a crucial element in protecting public and worker safety in all circumstances.

“When a workers sees a real danger, they should feel safe about warning people about it. There should be whistleblowing protection for all workers who witness dangers to the public and themselves.”

The union is also looking for other changes that would extend union protection to more workers and improve collective bargaining.

“If the government wants better labour laws, well, so do we,” Casselman said. “We want farm workers and part-time workers in the community college system to have the right to choose to join a union. We want to see fewer strikes through measures that would keep employers and unions at the bargaining table. We want to see union protection for workers on workfare placements.”

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For more information: 

Randy Robinson (416) 315-2982
Bill Trbovich (416) 443-8888 ext. 793; (416) 561-5613