FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2000
OPSEU demands closure
of Newmarket Provincial Courthouse
NEWMARKET – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is
demanding that the Ministry of Labour close the Newmarket Provincial
Courthouse until all toxic mould is removed from the building.
"The Ministry of Labour work orders aren’t doing anything.
People are still getting sick in there," said OPSEU Health and
Safety Officer Bob De Matteo. "They should be closing this place
down until all of the mould is removed and the remedial repairs are
completed." The ministry ordered the closure of the Criminal
offices in the courthouse on Friday June 16, 2000 when inspectors
discovered more toxic mould however the rest of the building remains
open.
"When judges staged a work refusal because of mouldy
courtrooms, they were sent to another court while repairs were made
but our members are stuck here," said De Matteo.
"Our members are now being harassed by their supervisors. They’re
told they have to prove that they’re sick with documentation from
their doctor. The judges don’t have to prove it - why should our
members have to? It’s blatant discrimination and we’re not going
to stand for it."
Workers have complained of dizziness, nausea, stomach ailments,
blurred vision, severe headaches, respiratory problems, skin rashes,
throat irritations and flu-like symptoms. The worker health complaints
started shortly after toxic mould was discovered in February when
building renovations began. On June 1, the Ministry of Labour ordered
the closure of four courtrooms, their connecting corridors and four
judicial chambers in the building.
The remedial work to comply with that order only created more
health problems for the workers and anyone else using the building.
"The mould became airborne and the chemicals used to suppress it
sent 23 people home sick last week. This will continue to happen
unless they close the courthouse completely and get rid of the
mould," said De Matteo. Even though we’ve had up to one quarter
of the work force off with illnesses related to the mould, the
Ministry informs me it’s not enough to warrant closing the entire
building De Matteo said.
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For further information:
Bill Trbovich 416-561-5613/793-0092
Bob De Matteo 416-443-8888 Ext. 770
